Here
Jazz Showcase focuses tightly upon the mid-'50s recordings that thrust
Sonny Rollins firmly into the spotlight, gathering seven tracks from Prestige, two from Contemporary, and one from Riverside. For those interested in samples of
Rollins' most famous albums, the CD contains one track from
Way Out West and a selection from
Plus Four (with the
Clifford Brown/
Max Roach quintet), and indulges in two cuts from the celebrated Saxophone Colossus. There are several originals, including the entire epic "Tenor Madness" with heavyweight sparring partner
John Coltrane, yet enduring
Rollins standards like "Airegin," "Oleo," and "Doxy" are left out, perhaps because he was technically a sideman on those sessions. Along the way, the CD touches upon
Rollins' endearing habit of picking the most unlikely song choices for material ("I'm an Old Cowhand," "Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Goodbye") and his yen for calypso ("St. Thomas"). The critical consensus is that the mid-'50s were
Rollins' best period (although some favor the RCA Victor/Impulse! 1960s), and this CD serves quite well as an appetite enhancer. ~ Richard S. Ginell