Moving Out

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The collaborations between Sonny Rollins and any given trumpet player were few and far between, but they did include such notables as Miles Davis, Don Cherry, Clifford Brown, and in this case, his first tandem partnership with Kenny Dorham. At the time, both of them were also members of the Max Roach Quintet, and thus quite familiar with each other's strengths. Add to the mix drummer Art Blakey, bassist Percy Heath, and emerging modern jazz pianist Elmo Hope, and this shapes up to be one of the more potent combos of 1954. It's pretty straightforward music featuring Rollins, with little involvement from Dorham except solos. The fast title track, based on the changes of "Donna Lee" or "Indiana," has the briefest melody line before Rollins leaps into eighth-note madness, while the very fleet "Swingin' for Bumsy" does the same, repeating the slimmest phrase three times. An all-time classic, "Solid" does have the two horns together, playing an established, bluesy unison thought, a beauty in economy, while the obligatory ballad "Silk 'n' Satin" is all Rollins wrapped in a fabric of sheen and softness. There's one track that features an entirely different band for some reason, as "More Than You Know" encompasses a full 11 minutes of this program, which in total is just shy of 32 minutes. This unmistakable melody is enveloped by Rollins and Thelonious Monk, with bassist Tommy Potter and drummer Art Taylor in support for a tune that is unlike the others in style and texture. Moving Out contains some fine music, especially for the time period.

© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo