Rollins, Sonny And The Modern Jazz Quartet - Sonny Rollins And The Modern Jazz Quartet


Year of Release: 2003
Label: Fantasy Jazz
Catalog Number: 7029
Format: CD
Total Time: 34:43:00

Sonny Rollins With The Modern Jazz Quartet features some of the early recordings of Sonny Rollins when he became a bandleader. It was evident early on Rollins had the talent and sense of innovation to become one of the great leaders in a jazz band, which he did. There are three different prolific lineups to reflect upon while listening to this remastered set.

In 1951 the Sonny Rollins Quartet recorded with different personnel, most notably Miles Davis on piano and Art Blakey on drums. In 1953, he joined in on sessions with the soon to be firmly established Modern Jazz Quartet.

The fifties would prove to be a critically acclaimed era for many jazz icons and Rollins easily falls into that realm, as these recordings bear out the truth in every note played. I found it interesting, however, how short every track was, when the status quo for a jazz tune fell into the range of 4-8 minutes in length. Regardless of length, every composition was clearly jazz advancing at its very best. "Shadrack" (not a Rollins original), as short as it was (2:32), got my attention quickly, and was surely one of the more blues injected numbers on the set and a great example of his musical genius. Of course, many more tracks were just as important with many defining moments. That track in particular really aroused my senses.

I without fail find the recordings remastered from the fifties to be the most enduring and historically important to the jazz genre and the culture that took root around the music. This is one more slice of the all-encompassing jazz pie that Fantasy Jazz continues to offer us. Keep your ears open and enjoy the opportunity to explore.


Tracklisting:
The Stopper (2:57) / Almost Like Being In Love (3:22) / No Moe (3:29) / In A Sentimental Mood (3:17) / Scoops (2:13) / With A Song In My Heart (3:06) / Newk's Fadeaway (3:11) / Time On My Hands (You In My Arms) (2:40) / This Love Of Mine (2:24) / Shadrack (2:32) / On A Slow Boat To China (2:39) / Mambo Bounce (2:22) / I Know (2:31)

Musicians:
Modern Jazz Quartet (Recorded in 1953):
John Lewis - piano
Milt Jackson - vibes
Percy Heath - bass
Kenny Clarke - drums

Sonny Rollins Quartet (Recorded in 1951):
Kenny Drew - piano
Percy Heath - bass
Art Blakey - drums

Sonny Rollins Quartet (Recorded in 1951):
Miles Davis - piano
Percy Heath - bass
Roy Haynes - drums

Discography:
extensive, see All Music.com

Genre: Jazz/Trad. Jazz

Origin US

Added: October 16th 2003
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website:
Hits: 2118
Language: english

  

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