Coleman Hawkins was probably one of the greatest saxophonists in jazz in the 20th century. When he played, everybody just stopped to hear the power and beauty coming from his horn. One of his signature songs was "Body and Soul."



There is a beauty, a longing, a understated power to this song that I enjoy.

And then there is John Coltrane, right there with Hawkins. My favorite song of his, "Naima" carries the same three things. This is the one song I want to learn to play on saxophone, if only for someone.



These two songs embody one of the things I love about jazz: if your song is good, it withstands the tests of time. It becomes immortal. It lives on, long past you.

I love these songs because they burst with love, soul, spirit, passion and heart. If there is a aural representation of what I want to give to someone, here they are.