Sonny Rollins: Valse Hot - Jazz Reference auf CD

+ Tommy Flanagan, Max Roach, Richie Powell u.a.

The first Sonny Rollins' volume in this collection made us discover the saxophonist through some of his first albums as a leader, recorded from 1951 and 1954. Here we find him in 1956 (he did not record that much in 1955) when he was part of the incredible quintet co-directed by the drummer Max Roach and the brilliant trumpet player Clifford Brown. It is this quintet, placed under Rollin’s leadership, that we hear as of the opening of this selection. As of the first bars of his first solo, it is clear that the playing of this saxophonist has gained in intensity, in depth and in serenity. His style becomes liberated : his voice is now recognized as one of the most expressive and personal of his time even if he does not desavow the influences from Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker. Sonny Rollins’ impressive power does not prevent him from developing long and sinuous phrases full of ideas and surprises. Another side of his personality appears at that time : Sonny is affirmed as an author of shrewd and catchy themes. There's plenty of evidence on this selection: Valse Hot, Pent-Up House and especially St Thomas, a calypso that became since then a very well known "standard", as well as Airegin, Doxy and Oleo, recorded by Miles Davis in June 1954 in a quintet with a tenor named Sonny Rollins… We will also enjoy with the same happiness the tracks that Rollins recorded for the album "Saxophone Colossus" on June 22, 1956, four days before Clifford Brown’s fatal accident. Of the famous quintet he was still part of, he had only called the drummer Max Roach, prince of the polyrythmy and infallible accompanist and Tommy Flanagan, delicate piano soloist, ideal and faithful partner who will spend more than ten years with Ella Fitzgerald… With them, Sonny engraved some of his best-loved tracks. However, the quartet, reunited on May 24th, was every bit his equal. The fabulous rhythm section was, at that time, Miles Davis' group, for which we know the requirements. To note that My Reverie, written by a popular director named Clinton, owes its pretty melody to a certain Claude Debussy. Nothing is lost…