Sonny Rollins, who at the time of writing is still alive at the age of 94, is one of the giants of modern jazz, and along with John Coltrane, perhaps the most influential personality as far as the tenor saxophone in jazz is concerned. So long and varied has his stellar career been that it is impossible to identify the most significant highlights – all one can do is pick out key moments, periods and collaborations which are notable and interesting, and this collection aims to do exactly that.
This 3-CD collection is devoted to early albums which he made for the Prestige label at the dawn of the vinyl long-player era, when jazz musicians and record companies began to devise concept albums with the opportunities offered by the new format.
This set comprises the tracks from eight original 10” and 12” albums on the Prestige label - “The Sonny Rollins Quartet”, “Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet”, “Sonny Rollins Quintet feat. Kenny Dorham”, “Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk”, “Work Time”, “Sonny Rollins & Clifford Brown Plus Four”, “Tenor Madness” and “Saxophone Colossus”.
They feature Sonny mainly in quartet and quintet formats with a significant cohort of major names - Kenny Drew, Percy Heath, Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Roy Haynes, Milt Jackson, John Lewis, Kenny Clarke, Kenny Dorham, Elmo Hope, Thelonious Monk, Ray Bryant, Clifford Brown, Richie Powell, George Morrow, Max Roach, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Tommy Flanagan and others.
It’s a fascinating and entertaining snapshot of an important time in his career.
Tracks
CD 1
1. TIME ON MY HANDS Sonny Rollins Quartet
2. THIS LOVE OF MINE Sonny Rollins Quartet
3. SHADRACK Sonny Rollins Quartet
4. ON A SLOW BOAT TO CHINA Sonny Rollins Quartet
5. SCOOPS Sonny Rollins Quartet
6. WITH A SONG IN MY HEART Sonny Rollins Quartet
7. NEWK'S FADEAWAY Sonny Rollins Quartet
8. I KNOW Sonny Rollins Quartet
From the albums “Sonny Rollins Quartet” Prestige PRLP137
and “Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet” Prestige 7029
10. THE STOPPER Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet
11. ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet
12. NO MOE Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet
13. IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet
From the album “Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet” Prestige 7029
14. MOVIN' OUT Sonny Rollins Quintet feat. Kenny Dorham
15. SWINGIN' FOR BUMSY Sonny Rollins Quintet feat. Kenny Dorham
16. SILK N' SATIN Sonny Rollins Quintet feat. Kenny Dorham
From the album “Sonny Rollins Quintet feat. Kenny Dorham” Prestige PRLP186
18. I WANT TO BE HAPPY Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk
19. THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk
20. MORE THAN YOU KNOW Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk
From the album “Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk” Prestige PRLP190
CD 2
1. SOLID Sonny Rollins Quintet feat. Kenny Dorham
From the album “Sonny Rollins Quintet feat. Kenny Dorham” Prestige PRLP186
2. TENOR MADNESS Sonny Rollins Quartet/Quintet
3. WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE Sonny Rollins Quartet/Quintet
4. PAUL'S PAL Sonny Rollins Quartet/Quintet
5. MY REVERIE Sonny Rollins Quartet/Quintet
6. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD Sonny Rollins Quartet/Quintet
From the album “Tenor Madness” Prestige PRLP7047
7. VALSE HOT Sonny Rollins Plus 4
8. KISS AND RUN Sonny Rollins Plus 4
9. I FEEL A SONG COMING ON Sonny Rollins Plus 4
10. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS Sonny Rollins Plus 4
11. PENT-UP HOUSE Sonny Rollins Plus 4
From the album “Sonny Rollins Plus Four” Prestige PRLP7038
CD 3
1. THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS Sonny Rollins
2. PARADOX Sonny Rollins
3. RAINCHECK Sonny Rollins
4. THERE ARE SUCH THINGS Sonny Rollins
5. IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH ME Sonny Rollins
From the album “Work Time“ Prestige PRLP7020
6. ST. THOMAS Sonny Rollins Quartet
7. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS Sonny Rollins Quartet
8. STRODE RODE Sonny Rollins Quartet
9. MORITAT Sonny Rollins Quartet
10. BLUE SEVEN Sonny Rollins Quartet
From the album “Saxophone Colossus” Prestige PRLP7047
