.:.impossible Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 (edited) I don't know how I've missed out on this album for so long. I don't recall ever reading much about it online, here or otherwise, and for whatever reason, Sonny Rollins' recordings are hard to find in my world. This is an amazing album. I got the RVG a few months back after being haunted by the memory of "Misterioso" at my brother's apartment way back when. Why isn't this album talked about more often? It's got everything, which of course includes two Monk tunes. One of which features both Monk and Horace Silver in unison on the head! Why isn't this cut talked about more often? This has to be an anomaly in jazz. Not only is this an amazing tune, but the lineup here, and the arrangement. The way Sonny comes in on that opening solo is so classic. Then JJ dances with Monk... and that take of Reflections ain't bad either. Almost definitive. Where is everyone on this? I've been loving this album. edit: added photo Edited April 6, 2004 by .:.impossible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Apparently, Joe Jackson was a big fan of it. I agree, it's a remarkable album; don't know why it's not talked about more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 My favorite Sonny album. Period! Horace and Monk COOK on "Misterioso!" I heard "Wail March" on the radio and bought the CD as soon as I could find a record store. That's how good it is! Plus it's got Blakey on it! After hearing "Reflections," I've always wished that the quartet of Rollins-Monk-Chambers-Blakey had made a full album together. Non-stop-bop from the masters of the form, and J.J. kicks ass throughout and damn-near steals the show! In short, I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted April 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 After hearing "Reflections," I've always wished that the quartet of Rollins-Monk-Chambers-Blakey had made a full album together. YES! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartyJazz Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 J.J. kicks ass throughout and damn-near steals the show! In short, I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!! As my avatar indicates I'm a big Newk nut. But concerning J.J., I once had the pleasure of running into him (1976) on a boat to Catalina Island. He looked very much the tourist with a camera around his neck. Recognizing him, we got into a great conversation....he pegged me as being from New York immediately. I told him that my favorite stuff of his was on two dates where he was a sideman, the aforementioned Rollins, Vol. 2 and Horace Silver's Cape Verdean Blues. He agreed that those albums contained some of his best work. Back to Rollins, Vol. 2 is a killer and certainly my favorite of the Blue Note recordings. Nobody has yet mentioned the terrific version of "You Stepped Out of a Dream". It's rare to hear cooking like that anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Classic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Sonny Rollins' recordings are hard to find in my world. Your world is wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 I think it's interesting to contrast/compare the tenor/trombone front line here with the Period date w/Jimmy Cleveland. Newk had a really interesting group sound happening there for a quick minute. In fact, he STILL uses the instrumentation today, so there must be something there that gets to him. As for why it's not mentioned more, it's easier to assume that the default status for a Rollins session from the 50s is "great", that's why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim R Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 I'm sure there are a lot of classics- by Sonny and many others- that we sort of take for granted and don't discuss very often. I think NEWK'S TIME (Wynton Kelly, Doug Watkins, Philly Joe Jones) is one that doesn't get mentioned often enough (no doubt in part due to the aforementioned "default status" of his 50's work). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Back to Rollins, Vol. 2 is a killer and certainly my favorite of the Blue Note recordings. Nobody has yet mentioned the terrific version of "You Stepped Out of a Dream". It's rare to hear cooking like that anymore. You got THAT right! Doncha just love the way Rollins holds that note between the end of the head and the beginning of the soloing? Talk about cranking up the intensity a notch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted April 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 What really stands out about this session, maybe more from a discographical persepctive, is the take of "Misterioso" with both Monk and Horace Silver. Seems to me this would be more of a historical event, Monk sharing the bench on his own tune. I am surprised I never knew about this. I don't have many recordings with two pianists in a rhythm section. Are there other examples of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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