Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins Vol. 2 (Mono, Blue Note Tone Poet)

Sonny Rollins' Sonny Rollins Vol. 2 captures the saxophonist in a particularly rich 1957 moment, during the short run of Blue Note leader dates he made after first appearing on the label as a teenager in 1949. This was his second album for Alfred Lion, and it brings together an exceptional hard-bop cast: J.J. Johnson on trombone, Horace Silver on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Art Blakey on drums, with Thelonious Monk joining on two of his own compositions.

That line-up matters because the album really does play like a meeting of major jazz voices rather than a routine blowing session. Rollins opens with his own fast-moving originals, including “Why Don’t I?” and “Wail March,” then shifts into Monk’s “Misterioso” and “Reflections,” where the composer’s guest appearance at the piano gives the record some of its sharpest character. The closing standards, “You Stepped Out of a Dream” and “Poor Butterfly,” round out a set that moves easily between bebop drive and a more relaxed, conversational swing.

For this Tone Poet edition, the attraction is not just the music but the care given to the presentation. The reissue is part of Blue Note’s audiophile Tone Poet series, produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, and pressed at RTI, making it a particularly appealing way to hear one of Rollins’ strongest Blue Note sessions on vinyl.

Features

• LP, 33RPM, 180g, Mono, Blue Note Tone Poet
• Produced by Joe Harley
• Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from the original analog master tapes
• Pressed at RTI
• Deluxe tip-on gatefold jacket

Reviews

• a timeless session and a milestone in jazz history - AllMusic.com