Jazz Kat Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 This is really a great album. What a treat...... Sonny on soprano sax! Is this the only time he played it. Anyway, every tune on the album (especially the ones that Rollins wrote) has a memorable melody to it, and the musicians are great. Highly recommended. Quote
JSngry Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 Sonny on soprano sax! Is this the only time he played it. No. There's soprano on Horn Culture and Next Album, the latter featuring a memorable version of "Poinciana" on soprano, along with David Lee's still-mind-boggling cymbal work. I agree, it's a good album, but I don't think that Sonny plays as freely and loosely as his rhythm section does on this one. A pleasant but ultimately frustrating listen for me, as were/are so many of the Milestones. But if I don't think about it too hard, that's not too big of a problem. Quote
Jazz Kat Posted March 9, 2006 Author Report Posted March 9, 2006 It sound changed a lot I think. I was used to hear his warm crisp sound. His sound was more scratchy on this album, and more like Sam Rivers. Quote
JSngry Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 Sonny's been through at least three, probably four or five, different "tonal phases" since his return in the 70s. They've all, however, been distinguished by what can only be described as a huge sound. The rasp has come and gone and come and gone etc. I remember when Sonny was on a Down Beat awards show on PBS ca. 1975 (Soundstage again). A bunch of us were sitting around watching that, and he did a duet w/McCoy on "In A Sentimental Mood" that was just awesome, but was also full of that rasp. Overflowing with it, in fact. The others in the room only knew of Sonny from the 50s and were more than a little, uh....perplexed by what they heard. Finally one guy said, with no small amount of befuddlement, "sounds like he's trying to imitate Archie Shepp". Oh well.... If you like this one, try The Cutting Edge. That one is lively and frisky and has rasp out the wazzoo. Quote
Guest akanalog Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 tony williams was reasonably active in the late 70s. a few trio albums w. carter and hancock. some of it is was just issued in japan, though. he also had a solo album or two (joy of flying and million dollar legs off the top of my head) there's that "battle night" album too with his band and billy cobham and a brutally long drum duet. i mean he wasn't prolific but compared to other jazz greats of the previous years he was doing alright. Quote
kh1958 Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 I haven't heard Easy Living, but of the other three mentioned (Horn Culture, Next Album and The Cutting Edge), my favorite is definitely Horn Culture, an excellent record and the very first Sonny Rollins record I ever bought. Quote
Guest akanalog Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 horn culture gets a bad rap, i think. i think it is decent. why the general hate? Quote
kh1958 Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 (edited) horn culture gets a bad rap, i think. i think it is decent. why the general hate? I really can't imagine, it sounds good to me, and I like the group, which I believe is pretty much the same group as another good one from that period, harder to obtain--Sonny Rollins in Japan. Edited March 9, 2006 by kh1958 Quote
Guest akanalog Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 that in japan one is a good one. much better than the cutting edge which i think sorta stinks. Quote
JSngry Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 (edited) Side Two of The Cutting Edge is weak, but Side One is just dandy. I've got the LP, so I only listen to Side One. Sonny could have been up in the mix more, though. Sounds like he's off-mike or something. Not fully miked, maybe. But that Masuo/Cranshaw/Mtume/Lee foursome gets into some pretty badass grooves to my ears, especially on the title cut - you could bounce a feather offa that bad boy! Horn Culture? I dunno...I know some people who really dig it, but it's never really hit me. Different strokes, I guess. Edited March 9, 2006 by JSngry Quote
Guest akanalog Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 re: cutting edge-i have problems with albums where the longest song is the crappiest, as is the case on this album with the tedious final jam. i have read reviews of horn culture calling it a mess and a failure and it shouldn't have been released, etc. it's not awesome but certainly not worthy of such harsh words. one album i like of rollins w. tony williams is no problem, which also has bobby hutcherson. cheesy happy music from the early 80s but it sure is happy. Quote
JSngry Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 I hear ya' about No Problem. I've gone so far as to play "Joyous Lake" in an R&B band, and believe it or not, people would dance to it. But only early in the evening. Tony's duet w/Sonny at the beginning of "Silver City" on the live Don't Start The Carnival side is on my hypothetical Sonny Desert Island Disc. Quote
Free For All Posted March 9, 2006 Report Posted March 9, 2006 Don't Start The Carnival I believe the carnival had already begun and Sonny's wish was that it didn't conclude. Quote
Eric Posted September 15, 2006 Report Posted September 15, 2006 I hear ya' about No Problem. I've gone so far as to play "Joyous Lake" in an R&B band, and believe it or not, people would dance to it. But only early in the evening. Tony's duet w/Sonny at the beginning of "Silver City" on the live Don't Start The Carnival side is on my hypothetical Sonny Desert Island Disc. Jim - Do you have your own Milestone "Silver City" list? I would love to see it ... I have a bunch of those lps which I never much listen to ... Quote
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