Record Details
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Record ID
1835
Artist
Sonny Rollins
Title
Sazophone Colossus / Tenor Madness
Field / Genre
Jazz
Year Recorded
1956
Label
Prestige
Pressing
Am
Rating
****
Discs
1
Media
CD
Date Bought
9 Apr 2006
Cost
¤0.00
Cover Name
—
Review
<h4><b>Saxophone Colossus</b></h4><p>Sonny Rollins recorded many memorable sessions during 1954-1958, but Saxophone Colossus is arguably his finest all-around set. Joined by pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Max Roach, Rollins debuts and performs the definitive version of "St. Thomas," tears into the chord changes of "Mack the Knife" (here called "Moritat"), introduces "Strode Rode," is lyrical on "You Don't Know What Love Is," and constructs a solo on "Blue Seven" that practically defines his style. Essential music that, as with all of Rollins' Prestige recordings, has also been reissued as part of a huge "complete" box set; listeners with a tight budget are advised to pick up this single disc and be amazed.</p><h4><b>Tenor Madness</b></h4><p>This CD (whose contents have since been reissued many times) is highlighted by the one meeting on records between Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, an exciting battle on "Tenor Madness." Otherwise this is a more conventional but no less worthy Rollins quartet session with him turning such odd material as "My Reverie" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" into creative jazz.</p>— <b>Scott Yanow</b>