Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 09/08/2009
Run Time: 31:22
The collaborations between
Sonny Rollins and any given trumpet player were few and far between, but they did include such notables as
Miles Davis,
Don Cherry,
Clifford Brown, and in this case, his first tandem partnership with
Kenny Dorham. At the time, both of them were also members of
the Max Roach Quintet, and thus quite familiar with each other's strengths. Add drummer
Art Blakey, bassist
Percy Heath, and emerging modern jazz pianist
Elmo Hope to the mix, making this one of the more potent combos of 1954. It's pretty straightforward music featuring
Rollins, with little involvement from
Dorham except solos. The fast title track, based on the changes of
"Donna Lee" or
"Indiana," has the briefest melody line before
Rollins leaps into eighth-note madness, while the very fleet
"Swingin' for Bumsy" does the same, repeating the slimmest phrase three times. An all-time classic,
"Solid" does have the two horns together, playing an established, bluesy unison thought, a beauty in economy, while the obligatory ballad
"Silk 'n' Satin" is all
Rollins wrapped in a fabric of sheen and softness. There's one track that features an entirely different band for some reason, as
"More Than You Know" encompasses a full 11 minutes of this program, which in total is just shy of 32 minutes. This unmistakable melody is enveloped by
Rollins and
Thelonious Monk, with bassist
Tommy Potter and drummer
Art Taylor in support for a tune that is unlike the others in style and texture. Unfortunately, this CD reissue is woefully short on time, with a potential 50 minutes of music that could be tacked on from some other source. Buyer beware: this contains some fine music, especially for the time period, but it is more an EP than a full-price item.
~Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
;)
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