Sonny Rollins – Work Time (OJC)

Sonny Rollins' Work Time comes from the extraordinary 1955-56 stretch when Rollins was rapidly defining himself as one of hard bop's essential tenor voices. Originally released by Prestige in 1956 and recorded on December 2, 1955 at Rudy Van Gelder's studio, it was also his first album as a leader after the end of his first self-imposed sabbatical. That context matters: this is early Rollins, but already with the force, rhythmic daring and melodic intelligence that would make the rest of his 1950s run so formidable.

The quartet is small and perfectly chosen, with Ray Bryant on piano, George Morrow on bass and Max Roach on drums. Work Time balances standards with one Rollins original, “Paradox,” and the five-track format gives the session plenty of room to breathe. “There’s No Business Like Show Business” opens with real drive, “Raincheck” catches Rollins and Roach in sharp dialogue, and even the more relaxed passages show how fully Rollins could rethink a familiar tune without losing its shape.

This OJC edition also makes sense as a vinyl release rather than just another catalogue repress. Cut all-analog from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, pressed at RTI, and housed in a Stoughton tip-on jacket, it reflects the revived Original Jazz Classics focus on audiophile editions of key jazz titles.

Features

• 1xLP, 180g, OJC, Black Vinyl
• AAA lacquers cut from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
• Pressed at RTI
• Stoughton tip-on jacket with obi strip