SONNY ROLLINS - THE SOUND OF SONNY
A new
phase in Sonny Rollins' career began in 1957. He started what was at the time
an almost blasphemous trend of recording for a number of different labels. His
pioneering spirit yielded a few genre-defining albums, including this disc. His
performances were also at a peak during 1957 as Down Beat magazine proclaimed
him the Critics' Poll winner under the category of "New Star" of the
tenor saxophone. This newfound freedom can be heard throughout the innovations
on The Sound of Sonny. Not only are Rollins' fluid solos reaching newly
obtained zeniths of melodic brilliance, but he has also begun experimenting
with alterations in the personnel from tune to tune. Most evident on this
platter is "The Last Time I Saw Paris" -- which is piano-less -- and
most stunning of all is Rollins' unaccompanied tenor solo performance on
"It Could Happen to You." Indeed, this rendering of the Jimmy Van
Heusen standard is the highlight of the disc. That isn't to say that the
interaction between Sonny Clark (piano), Roy Haynes (drums), and bassists Percy
Heath and Paul Chambers -- who is featured on "The Last Time I Saw Paris"
and "What Is There to Say" -- is not top-shelf. Arguably, it is
Rollins and Heath -- the latter, incidentally, makes his East Coast debut on
this album -- who set the ambience for The Sound of Sonny. There is an
instinctually pervasive nature as they weave into and back out of each others'
melody lines, only to emerge with a solo that liberates the structure of the
mostly pop standards. This is a key component in understanding the
multiplicities beginning to surface in Rollins' highly underappreciated smooth
bop style. ~ Concord Music Group
ART BLAKEY & JAZZ MESSENGERS - CARAVAN
One of
the best non-Blue Note sessions from Art Blakey in the 60s – a really searing
set that features the sextet lineup of the Jazz Messengers – a group that's
filled with legends who include Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on
tenor, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Reggie Workman on bass, and Cedar Walton on
piano! The sextet format really pushes the energy of the group – and allows for
even more wonderful horn interplay than before – while still allowing for lots
of solo space for individual voices. Tracks are long and open, with a bouncing
lyrical groove that's more soaring than some of the heavy-hitting earlier
albums from Blakey, but no less pleasing – and possibly even a bit more
soulful! Titles include "Sweet N Sour", "This Is For
Albert", "Skylark", and "Thermo". ~ Dusty Groove
TUMI MOGOROSI - PROJECT ELO
Not a
tribute to the Electric Light Orchestra, but a wonderfully spiritual set of
jazz – one that takes key inspiration from the elohim entities of spiritual
scriptures – as well as some of the best jazz mass projects from artists like
Max Roach, Donald Byrd, or Mary Lou Williams! The group here features a quartet
of South African singers – working with the core jazz combo in this really
great way – never too overwhelming at all, but floating into the mix with this
heavenly sort of presence, as you'd hear on Byrd's famous "with
voices" sessions for Blue Note! The group's led by drummer Tumi Mogorosi –
and features tenor, alto, trombone, and guitar – all used sparingly, but with
these strong solo voices amidst the human ones. Titles include "Inner
Emergence", "In The Beginning", "Thokozile Queen Mother",
and "Slaves Emancipation". ~ Dusty Groove
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