Which jazz saxophonist recorded the famous 1939 version of “Body and Soul”?

Coleman Hawkins recorded the famous 1939 jazz version of “Body and Soul.”

Hawkins made the recording in New York with a small group that included pianist Gene Rodgers, guitarist Al Casey, bassist Artie Bernstein, and drummer Connie Kay. His tenor-saxophone improvisation transformed the popular song into an extended harmonic statement and became one of the defining recordings of the swing era.

The performance is especially important because Hawkins had recently returned to the United States after several years working in Europe. It demonstrated a mature, chord-focused approach to improvisation that influenced bebop musicians, including Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.

“Body and Soul” was written for the 1930 Broadway musical Three’s a Crowd, with music by Johnny Green and lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton. Hawkins did not compose the song; he created its celebrated jazz interpretation.