Hampton Hawes 1928ampndash1977 was one of jazzamp39s greatest pianists. Among his peers from California the selftaught Hawes was second only to Oscar Peterson. At the time of his celebration as New Star of the Year by downbeat magazine 1956 Hawes was already struggling with a heroin addiction that would lead to his arrest and imprisonment and the interruption of a brilliant career. In 1963 President John F. Kennedy granted Hawes an Executive Pardon. In eloquent and humorous language Hampton Hawes tells of a life of suffering and redemption that reads like an improbable novel. Gary Giddins has called it ampquota major contribution to the literature of jazz.ampquot This book includes a complete discography and eight pages of photographs.