Sonny Rollins Here's to The People

Sonny Rollins's usual sextet (with trombonist Clifton Anderson, pianist Mark Soskin, guitarist Jerome Harris, electric bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Steve Jordan) welcomes guest drummers Jack DeJohnette and Al Foster and, most importantly, trumpeter Roy Hargrove on two selections. Hargrove sounds fine on "I Wish I Knew" and "Young Roy" while Rollins is in good form on such songs as "Why Was I Born," "Someone to Watch over Me" and "Long Ago and Far Away." Nothing very innovative occurs but the music is quite pleasing.

The better-than-usual repertoire (including the calypso "Duke or Iron," "Dancing in the Dark" and the Warren & Dubin number "I'll String Along with You") makes this outing by Sonny Rollins's usual band (with trombonist Clifton Anderson,, keyboardist Mark Soskin, electric bassist Jerome Harris and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith) one of the more interesting Rollins albums of recent times. Although not up to the level of his best live performances, this studio album is quite enjoyable and gives one a clear idea as to how Sonny Rollins sounded in the 1980s.