Sonny Rollins- Saxophone Colossus

**Stormcrow** · June-19th-2003, 07:29 PM

Sonny Rollins has always been one of my favorite players, but until now I have never owned a CD of his. Shock! Gasp!

I really liked this CD. It seems pointless to go into an in-depth review of a classic which I am sure everyone has heard, but my favorite tracks are "St. Thomas," and "Moritat." I like St. Thomas for its calypso beat, and "Moritat" is a very good version of the classic "Mack the Knife," right up there with Louis' and Ella's versions.

I love Rollin's laid-back, yet swinging tone. I also enjoyed Tommy Flanagan's and Max Roach's solos a lot. :-)

**Chuck Nessa** · June-19th-2003, 08:59 PM

Blue Seven is the heart of this session - when it hits you, goodbye! AND Strode Rode kicks ass.

**Stormcrow** · June-20th-2003, 05:58 AM

You got that right.

I really liked all the tracks.

**gnhrtg** · June-21st-2003, 05:28 PM

Great album and necessary listening for anyone interesting in the history of jazz, improvisation, tenor saxophone playing (independently)

Theophilus, since this is your first Rollins album, you might do well to continue with Plus 4, Live at V.V., and the Bridge - in case you were not sure.

In spite of a few minor mishaps from Max Roach, this is one of my all-time favorites. Everyone sounds inspired and Rollins' solo on the first track is just too good - I wonder how many players could not get near this one even if they were allowed to write down their solos; not to speak of that beatiful tone of his that gets me everytime.

**Chris Castelle** · June-21st-2003, 05:34 PM

I always appreciated Rollins' inclusion of Mack the Knife on this album. It's a way-cool tune that for some reason never became I standard for jazz instrumentalists.

**Sergio Zamora** · June-21st-2003, 05:40 PM

Originally posted by gnhrtg
Great album and necessary listening for anyone interesting...

Even for us boring people it's a must

**Stormcrow** · June-21st-2003, 06:05 PM

LOL!

Actually, gnhrtg, I was eyeing "Way Out West" too.

**Squaredancecalling Steve** · June-21st-2003, 06:17 PM

"Way Out West" is excellent, and one of the all-time great cover photos, too.

I'm an old cowhand,
From the Rio Grande...

**Stormcrow** · June-21st-2003, 07:02 PM

lol, yeah, I know. I love the cover.

**gnhrtg** · June-21st-2003, 08:14 PM

Yep, you got me Sergio.
It is quite late here in France and I have been reading and writing all day, so there went a slip - as though I needed excuses.

**HLAW** · June-23rd-2003, 12:39 PM

Yeah Player Rollin's"Colossus"is the Truth now go dig his "The Bridge" for some more flavor.Peace and all that.

**Pete C** · June-23rd-2003, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by HLAW
Yeah Player Rollin's"Colossus"is the Truth now go dig his "The Bridge" for some more flavor.Peace and all that.

And if you dig "the Bridge" check out the "Jazz Casual" video recorded around the same time with the same band.

**jazzwriter** · June-23rd-2003, 03:38 PM

The first box set I ever owned is Rollins' Prestige box set, IMO a must have. Includes the classic pre-Bridge stuff. Even sessions with Charlie Parker. If you're the type that likes Colossus AND enjoys jumping in neck deep, the Prestige box is for you!

**willfb** · July-3rd-2003, 08:19 AM

Only one of the 5 or 10 greatest jazz albums ever recorded, imho. I'm about to spring for a SACD version because the CD I have is from the early-digital days and has this spooky-sounding quality.

I'd give Sax Colossus the edge over Way Out West, but both are great albums and it's fascinating to listen to the very different things the two great drummers, Max Roach and Shelly Manne, bring to these records.

**willy** · July-19th-2003, 09:53 AM

Both are classics, but I personally like Way Out West a bit more. I can play that one all day long. That's the recording that made Ray Brown my favorite jazz bassist of all time.

Of course, Rollins and Manne aren't too shabby either

**Tanager** · July-19th-2003, 11:39 AM

plus 4 is a great disk and worth picking up...Clifford Brown and Max Roach are none too shabby, either.

**Nate Dorward** · July-22nd-2003, 02:57 PM

Well basically all the Prestige sessions from Worktime on to Tour de Force are worth having--Worktime & Tenor Madness are I think the first picks after Saxophone Colossus. The boxed set is certainly worthwhile, though the material on discs 1-3 is patchy & the set often frustratingly includes most but not quite all of certain sessions just because Rollins didn't play on one or two numbers.

**Noj** · July-22nd-2003, 03:14 PM

Found a crisp used vinyl copy of this for $4 a few months ago. Quality stuff, my first exposure to Rollins believe it or not.

**steve(thelil)** · July-23rd-2003, 05:53 PM

I loved his work in Black Flag

**Stormcrow** · July-23rd-2003, 07:48 PM

Thanks for the suggestions!

What about his dates with Thelonious Monk and his session with Sonny Stitt and Dizzy Gillespie (now that sounds interesting!

)

**Nate Dorward** · July-24th-2003, 07:51 AM

The classic date with Monk is Brilliant Corners. The two albums with Gillespie & Stitt are certainly worth picking up, the better of the two definitely being the one with just "On the Sunny Side of the Street", "The Eternal Triangle", "After Hours" & "More Than You Know" (or was it "I Know That You Know"? I forget). The second album from the same session is OK but it's a bit more routine: a bunch of 10-minute blues jams plus (more importantly) the first recording of "Con Alma". Stitt & Rollins never play on the same tracks on the 2nd disc, disappointingly, but their sparring on "The Eternal Triangle" on the 1st disc is classic stuff.

**Noj** · July-24th-2003, 09:20 AM

Originally posted by steve(thelil)
I loved his work in Black Flag

SIX PACK!!!

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