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It's easy to look at the titles of a number of jazz musicians' albums from the 1950s and wonder to oneself: were these guys egotistical? Tenor Sonny Rollins, for instance, named one album Saxophone Colossus and another Tour de Force. While one might blush at the lack of modesty, it's still difficult to argue about the results. Rollins, as he appears on The Best of Sonny Rollins, simply is a colossus and the music he makes is a tour de force. The album collects tracks from Rollins' work on Prestige during the early- to mid-'50s, some of the most exciting work he has ever laid down on tape. He's joined by other giants including fellow tenor John Coltrane, trumpeter Clifford Brown, and pianist Tommy Flanagan for a solid set list. Pieces are drawn from the above mentioned albums ("St. Thomas" and "My Ideal" respectively), and offer a good representation of Rollins' work during this time. There's a forceful take on "It's All Right With Me," featuring pianist Ray Bryant, bassist George Morrow, and drummer Max Roach, and a lovely version of Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood" with pianist John Lewis, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Kenny Clarke. The album ends on a high point with an extended version of "Tenor Madness," a title befitting the headlining of two of jazz's best tenors, Rollins and Coltrane. The Best of Sonny Rollins may not collect all of the tenor's best work, but it's a grand place to start for new fans.
© Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. /TiVo
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Doug Watkins, Double Bass, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Rollins, Composer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Flanagan, Piano, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1956 Prestige Records, Inc.
Thelonious Monk, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Vincent Youmans, ComposerLyricist - Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Rose, ComposerLyricist - Edward Eliscu, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Rollins, Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Weinstock, Producer - Arthur Taylor, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1954 Prestige Records, Inc.
Dorothy Fields, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy McHugh, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Brown, Trumpet, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Rollins, Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Oppenheimer, ComposerLyricist - Richie Powell, Piano, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Morrow, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1956 Prestige Records, Inc.
FRANK LOESSER, ComposerLyricist - Art Blakey, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sonny Rollins, Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Drew, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1952 Prestige Records, Inc.
Leo Robin, ComposerLyricist - Newell Chase, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Rollins, Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Drew, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Richard A. Whiting, ComposerLyricist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Earl Coleman, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - George Morrow, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1958 Prestige Records, Inc.
Cole Porter, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Rollins, Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Bryant, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - George Morrow, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1955 Prestige Records, Inc.
Irving Mills, ComposerLyricist - Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Manny Kurtz, ComposerLyricist - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Sonny Rollins, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ira Gitler, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1951 Prestige Records, Inc.
Kurt Weill, ComposerLyricist - Doug Watkins, Double Bass, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Bertolt Brecht, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Rollins, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Flanagan, Piano, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1956 Prestige Records, Inc.
Art Blakey, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sonny Rollins, Composer, Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Drew, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1952 Prestige Records, Inc.
John Coltrane, Saxophone, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Chambers, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Philly Joe Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Rollins, Composer, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Red Garland, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Rollins Quartet, MainArtist
℗ 1956 Prestige Records, Inc.
Album review
It's easy to look at the titles of a number of jazz musicians' albums from the 1950s and wonder to oneself: were these guys egotistical? Tenor Sonny Rollins, for instance, named one album Saxophone Colossus and another Tour de Force. While one might blush at the lack of modesty, it's still difficult to argue about the results. Rollins, as he appears on The Best of Sonny Rollins, simply is a colossus and the music he makes is a tour de force. The album collects tracks from Rollins' work on Prestige during the early- to mid-'50s, some of the most exciting work he has ever laid down on tape. He's joined by other giants including fellow tenor John Coltrane, trumpeter Clifford Brown, and pianist Tommy Flanagan for a solid set list. Pieces are drawn from the above mentioned albums ("St. Thomas" and "My Ideal" respectively), and offer a good representation of Rollins' work during this time. There's a forceful take on "It's All Right With Me," featuring pianist Ray Bryant, bassist George Morrow, and drummer Max Roach, and a lovely version of Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood" with pianist John Lewis, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Kenny Clarke. The album ends on a high point with an extended version of "Tenor Madness," a title befitting the headlining of two of jazz's best tenors, Rollins and Coltrane. The Best of Sonny Rollins may not collect all of the tenor's best work, but it's a grand place to start for new fans.
© Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 01:03:54
- Main artists: Sonny Rollins
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Milestone
- Genre: Jazz
© 2004 Fantasy, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2004 Fantasy, Inc.
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