Sonny Rollins 2000 The Freelance Years

On Sonny Meets Hawk!, possibly more than at any other point in his long professional evolution, Hawkins was able to attain heights of unfettered creativity that must have felt bracing, even exhilarating. He obviously relished the opportunity to improvise intuitively in the company of a tenor saxophonist every bit as accomplished, resourceful, and inventive as he was.

This CD from the Bluebird reissue series fills a lot of gaps in Sonny Rollins' discography. The 13 selections are taken from six different sessions from 1964. The personnel changes from date to date, with either Ron Carter or Bob Cranshaw on bass and Roy McCurdy or Mickey Roker on drums, along with pianist Herbie Hancock on five songs and guitarist Jim Hall on three others. Some of the music is actually alternate takes, and in contrast to a rambling 16-minute version of "Now's the Time," a few of the briefer songs (seven are under 31 minutes) shut down prematurely. However, the great tenor's improvisations are consistently fascinating, as he reconciles his avant-garde flights to the standards he is performing; "Autumn Nocturne" is a high point.

Sonny Rollins - Without a Song, The 9/11 Concert (2005) {Milestone MCD 9342-2 rec 2001}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 517 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 174 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 18 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2001, 2005 Concord Music / Milestone Records | MCD-9342-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Hard Bop / Saxophone

Recorded on September 15th, 2001, WITHOUT A SONG is a live recording by jazz icon Sonny Rollins, observing the World Trade Center disaster that occurred just four days prior to the concert. Rollins was one of the few musicians from jazz's golden age still performing with a sense of vitality, and that is especially clear on this recording, which is imbued with the gravity appropriate to the aforementioned tragedy.