SONNY ROLLINS - JAZZ CLASSICS

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Sonny Rollins - Jazz Classics

Sonny Rollins

Jazz Classics

PR 7433 [reissue of PRLP 7058 "Moving Out"]

Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, August 18, 1954

Personnel:

Kenny Dorham (tp) Sonny Rollins (ts) Elmo Hope (p) Percy Heath (b) Art Blakey (d)

606 Movin' Out

607 Swinging For Bumsy

608 Silk 'N' Satin

609 Solid

Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, October 25, 1954

Personnel:

Sonny Rollins (ts) Thelonious Monk (p) Tommy Potter (b) Art Taylor (d)

632 More Than You Know

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Tracks

1. Moving Out [Rollins] 4:31

2. Swingin' for Bumsy [Rollins] 5:48

3. Silk 'n' Satin [Rollins] 4:03

4. Solid [Rollins] 6:27

5. More Than You Know [Eliscu/Rose/Youmans] 10:48

Review by Michael G. Nastos

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 drummer Art Blakey, bassist Percy Heath, and emerging modern jazz pianist Elmo Hope to the mix, making this 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.

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