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Saxophone Colossus

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Saxophone Colossus · On 22 June 1956 Sonny Rollins recorded this album in Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, for Prestige Records. The producer was Bob Weinstock. It was his sixth studio album. The saxophonist led a quartet with pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Max Roach. At the time he was also playing in the quintet of Clifford Brown and Roach. The recording took place four days before Brown and Richie Powell were killed in a car accident on the way to a gig in Chicago.

The record was regarded as a breakthrough and made the saxophonist known as a jazz musician of stature. Billboard wrote in 1957 that every track was full of surprises and that every solo was built with great architectural logic. DownBeat praised the humour and the gentleness, combined with undiminished, powerful swing. The Penguin Guide to Jazz included the album in its core selection. In 2016 it was preserved in the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to how, on Blue 7, the saxophonist builds his solo step by step, with each new idea growing out of the last.

Track list

  1. 1St. Thomas6:46Apple Music ↗
  2. 2You Don't Know What Love Is (Rudy Van Gelder Rudy Van Gelder Remastered 2006 / Shared ISRC)6:27Apple Music ↗
  3. 3Strode Rode (Remastered 2006 / Shared ISRC)5:13Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Moritat10:02Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Blue 7 (Rudy Van Gelder Remaster 1956)11:17Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs