Sonny Rollins – Plus 4

Plus 4 is a studio album by saxophonist Sonny Rollins, recorded in March 1956 and released the same year on Prestige Records. The record features the Clifford Brown–Max Roach Quintet, with Clifford Brown on trumpet, Max Roach on drums, Richie Powell on piano, and George Morrow on bass. Rollins joined the group for this session, and the chemistry between the players is evident in both the tight ensemble work and the inspired solos.

The album includes standout tracks like “Valse Hot,” an early and influential jazz waltz, alongside “Kiss and Run,” “I Feel a Song Coming On,” and “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep.” The blend of Rollins’ robust, searching tenor sound with Brown’s lyrical trumpet and Roach’s dynamic drumming creates a vibrant, timeless set that captures the hard bop spirit of the mid-1950s.

Reviews

“A classic bop date from the Rollins discography.” — AllMusic