Sonny Rollins - The Sound of Sonny
Published September 27, 2004
Sonny Rollins
The Sound of Sonny
Riverside Records
The first track of this collection, "The Last Time I Saw Paris," by tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins highlights what the album has to offer. Sonny makes you pay attention because he doesn't just play the song as you've heard it before; eight of the songs are covers while two are original compositions, "Cutie" and the bonus track "Funky Hotel Blues," which was added when the album was reissued in 1987. He adds his own flourishes while playing but his talent lies in the fact that the music doesn't sound like showing off, but instead works within the context of the song.
He doesn't get lost in the directions he heads and always finds his way back to the foundation laid by the rhythm section, which is made up of pianist Sonny Clark, drummer Roy Haynes and bassist Percy Heath, a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet. During the recording sessions for this album Heath was unavailable one day, so Paul Chambers fills in on tracks #1, 4 and 10. Sonny doesn't use the whole quartet on two tracks. There's no piano on the aforementioned "The Last Time I Saw Paris," and he is unaccompanied on "It Could Happen to You," a wonderful solo piece.
This album was recorded in 1957 when he was 26, but Sonny plays like a man beyond his years. On "What Is There To Say?" you get a sense of what he experienced many nights from the stage. Late evenings in dark, smoky cafés sadness permeates the air. A man at the end of the bar slowly drains his drink, showing no hurry to get home to his empty apartment. A couple slow-dances in the shadows, fighting back tears, both knowing that the relationship is over, but neither is willing to acknowledge it. Tonight they hold onto the illusion of what was as tight as their embrace, knowing full well that when this night ends, so will they. If you listen and focus, it's all there.
There are plenty of happy, upbeat songs also. There's a toe-tappin' cover of the Al Jolson classic, "Toot, Toot, Tootsie." On "Mangoes," a Rosemary Clooney hit at the time, the drums are showcased in a playful tune. Not to be left out, the piano and bass are featured on "Cutie." Chambers even gets a solo on "Funk Hotel Blues."
I enjoyed this album and great deal and was so impressed by his skills that I will be seeking out more Sonny Rollins so I can enjoy his other sounds.
- Sonny Rollins - The Sound of Sonny
- Published: September 27, 2004
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- Section: Music
- Writer: El Bicho
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Sonny is arguably the greatest living jazz artist, and this one is a decent, typical early effort. If you wanna explore, you'll surely want some of these uncontroversially major recordings:
"Saxophone Colossus": This one always finds its way to the Top Ten in any "Best All-Time Jazz Albums" list, and is a great place to start with Sonny. It's one of those "Kind of Blue" or "Brilliant Corners" or "Ah-Um" albums of which most jazzers know every note. You'll recognize "St. Thomas," although you might not know the name. The album, for all its acclaim, doesn't disappoint.
(By the way, Sonny is also featured on Monk's "Brilliant Corners" album, and you probably want that, too, if you don't know it already.)
"The Bridge": The first album after a self-imposed exile from performing and recording from '59 to '61, it features guitarist Jim Hall and is essential. "You Do Something to Me" and the title track are particularly sublime.
"Way Out West": This one has some weird tune choices (although not as weird as the hilarious cover photo of "Cowboy Sonny"), which are associated with a vague "western" theme. They are played magnificently and with sort of uncharacteristic good humor. His solo on Duke's "Solitude" will make you cry.
"Night at the Village Vanguard": Any version of this is worth buying; there are several single- and double- and more-disc releases, and they document everything Sonny and his group played during a couple of nights in 1957. Searing.
By the way, I saw Sonny outside at Lincoln Center a month ago, and his energy and inventiveness was incredible for a man of 24, let alone 74. And, maddeningly, his backing band was substandard, a constant during the past 30 years of his career. His recordings since the 70's are frustrating, but jazz dorks like me have found them also a treasure trove.
I envy anyone for whom this great music is new!
ditto on Saxophone Colossus, it's defintely on one of those 'must have' recordings.
even if you're not a jazz dork.
Mark, what would you know about not being a jazz dork?
I also forgot "Tenor Madness," another all-timer from the late '50s. Sorry, but Sonny has made a lot of great albums.
This review was chosen for Advance.net. You will be able to find it on newspaper sites including Cleveland.com.
uh....good point.
though of course i wasn't always a jazz dork (i think...)
Now it can be told: Sonny Rollins turned Mark into a jazz dork!!
see, i'm so taken aback that i can't even spell the name right!
and speaking of being a jazz dork, i probably should say that i'm listening to Anthony Braxton right now.
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love Sonny, probably my favorite saxman - thanks EB!