Gordon looks at the life and works of West Coast pianist Hampton Hawes. Although his career was plagued by substance abuse and legal problems, Hawes made a name for himself playing with legends like Dexter Gordon, Howard McGhee, Charlie Parker, and Charles Mingus. After winning Down Beat Magazine's "New Star of the Year " and Metronome's "Arrival of the Year, " Hawes was arrested on his 30th birthday for heroin possession and spent 5 years in federal prison before being pardoned by President Kennedy in 1963.