Mister Bean - Jazz Characters

Coleman Hawkins, while he was not the first saxophone player in jazz history, is known as the man who turned it into a solo instrument in its own right, on a par with the clarinet and the trumpet. His influence spanned several generations and big names like Lester Young, Charlie Parker and even John Coltrane owe him a lot. Nicknamed 'Hawk' or 'Bean', his charisma and his instrumental technique were such that some soon jumped to the conclusion that he had invented the saxophone.