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This six-CD set has all of tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins' recordings for RCA, including the complete contents of The Bridge, What's New, Our Man In Jazz, Sonny Meets Hawk, Now's the Time and The Standard Sonny Rollins, the three selections originally included in the sampler 3 for Jazz, and 11 alternate takes only previously released on the French album The Alternative Rollins. Less known than Rollins' earlier Prestige and Riverside records and slightly later Impulse albums, his output for RCA was recorded right after the great tenor came back from an extended sabbatical. The music on The Bridge (which co-stars guitarist Jim Hall) is the most famous of these dates. Rollins became increasingly interested in the avant-garde during the era, and he used two of Ornette Coleman's sidemen (trumpeter Don Cherry and drummer Billy Higgins) in his group for a period. On Sonny Meets Hawk, Rollins challenged his idol Coleman Hawkins by playing as outside as possible (Hawkins responded well). Other musicians heard on the recordings include bassists Bob Cranshaw, Ron Carter and Henry Grimes, drummers Ben Riley and Mickey Roker, pianists Paul Bley and Herbie Hancock and (on a couple of numbers) cornetist Thad Jones. However, Rollins is the main star throughout the adventurous and sometimes eccentric performances, coming up with many remarkable ideas, often rollicking with a pianoless rhythm section and in two cases taking duets with the congas of Candido. Serious Sonny Rollins collectors will have to have this valuable set, although since most of the selections have also been reissued on individual CDs, more casual jazz fans may be satisfied with one or two of the smaller reissues.
Disc 1
01. Without a Song (7:28)
02. Where Are You? (5:10)
03. John S. (7:42)
04. The Bridge (5:59)
05. God Bless the Child (7:27)
06. You Do Something To Me (6:50)
07. Don't Stop the Carnival (6:08)
08. If Ever I Would Leave You (12:03)
Disc 2
01. Jungoso (10:55)
02. Bluesongo (4:43)
03. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (9:12)
04. Brown Skin Girl (6:47)
05. Fifty-Second Street Theme (14:41)
06. Four (7:52)
Disc 3
01. Oleo (25:24)
02. Dearly Beloved (8:21)
03. Doxy (15:18)
04. You Are My Lucky Star (3:46)
05. I Could Write A Book (3:17)
06. There Will Never Be Another You (5:43)
Disc 4
01. Yesterdays (5:13)
02. All the Things You Are (9:34)
03. Summertime (5:58)
04. Just Friends (4:40)
05. Lover Man (8:54)
06. At McKie's (7:03)
07. Now's the Time (4:03)
08. Blue 'n' Boogie (5:31)
09. I Remember Clifford (2:36)
10. Fifty-Second Street Theme (4:32)
Disc 5
01. St. Thomas (3:58)
02. 'Round Midnight (4:02)
03. Afternoon In Paris (2:45)
04. Four (7:15)
05. I Remember Clifford (6:05)
06. St. Thomas (3:07)
07. Django (5:24)
08. Afternoon In Paris (3:02)
09. Now's the Time (15:53)
10. Four (2) (5:52)
Disc 6
01. Autumn Nocturne (3:03)
02. Night and Day (3:19)
03. Love Letters (3:29)
04. My One and Only Love (6:01)
05. Three Little Words (2:16)
06. Trav'lin' Light (4:08)
07. I'll Be Seeing You (1:39)
08. My Ship (4:14)
09. It Could Happen To You (4:21)
10. Long Ago and Far Away (2:50)
11. Winter Wonderland (5:20)
12. When You Wish Upon a Star (3:18)
13. Trav'lin' Light (alternate) (12:45)
