In 1956, Sonny Rollins was a member of the Clifford Brown-Max Roach group, which cut a real masterpiece under his name, Sonny Rollins Plus Four. This group lets it all hang out. Rollins and trumpeter Clifford Brown play with great aggressiveness, imagination and continuity. Rollins is on fire, pouring ideas out of his horn, as does the great Brown. Brown's tone sounds great here: big, full and with a heavy vibrato. Richie Powell, Bud's younger brother, contributes some fine, thoughtful solos to the date. This is my favorite Roach-Brown album, and that's saying something. With Rollins included they were one of the great small combos in jazz.