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Avg: 4.5 (262 ratings)
- Date Released: March 22, 1956
- Genre: Jazz
- Style: Bebop
- Label: Fantasy / Prestige
One of the most exuberant and sheerly enjoyable discs ever carved in wa…er…digital.
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We Say...
If some lunkhead ever tries to tell you that jazz is boring, just play them Sonny's Saxophone Colossus, one of the most exuberant and sheerly enjoyable discs ever carved in wax. Apart from his awesome technical accomplishments and inexhaustible stamina, Rollins' playing has always been infused with humor and joie de vivre, which are immediately evident from the opening piece here, the loose-limbed calypso "St. Thomas" (named after one of the Virgin Islands). "Moritat" is a droll Rollinsisation of Kurt Weill's "Mack the Knife," and he delivers a deft master class in balladry on "You Don't Know What Love Is." But it's the closing track, "Blue Seven," which established itself as the critic's tipple. Based on a feline walking blues theme, it provides the platform for one of Rollins' finest-ever extended improvisations, though much kudos must be lobbed at his sidemen, drummer Max Roach, pianist Tommy Flanagan and bassman Doug Watkins. Ah, bliss.
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They Say...
Sonny Rollins recorded many memorable sessions during 1954-1958, but Saxophone Colossus is arguably his finest all-around set. Joined by pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Max Roach, Rollins debuts and performs the definitive version of "St. Thomas," tears into the chord changes of "Mack the Knife" (here called "Moritat"), introduces "Strode Rode," is lyrical on "You Don't Know What Love Is," and constructs a solo on "Blue Seven" that practically defines his style. Essential music that, as with all of Rollins' Prestige recordings, has also been reissued as part of a huge "complete" box set; listeners with a tight budget are advised to pick up this single disc and be amazed.
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| 01. |  |
St. Thomas |
6:49 |
|
| 02. | |
You Don't Know What Love Is |
6:30 |
|
| 03. | |
Strode Rode |
5:17 |
|
| 04. | |
Moritat |
10:05 |
|
| 05. | |
Blue Seven |
11:17 |
|
05 Total Tracks, 39:58 Total Length
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Credits
- Tommy Flanagan - Piano // Tommy Flanagan - Piano // Tommy Flanagan - Piano // Tommy Flanagan - Piano // Tommy Flanagan - ? // Tommy Flanagan - ? // Tommy Flanagan - ? // Tommy Flanagan - ? // Max Roach - Drums // Max Roach - Drums // Max Roach - Drums // Max Roach - ? // Max Roach - ? // Max Roach - ? // Sonny Rollins - Sax (Tenor) // Sonny Rollins - Sax (Tenor) // Sonny Rollins - Sax (Tenor) // Sonny Rollins - Main Performer // Sonny Rollins - Main Performer // Sonny Rollins - Main Performer // Doug Watkins - Bass // Doug Watkins - ? // Hannan - Design // Hannan - Photography // Hannan - Cover Design // Phil DeLancie - Remastering // Phil DeLancie - Digital Remastering // Rudy Van Gelder - Engineer // Rudy Van Gelder - Liner Notes // Rudy Van Gelder - Author // Rudy Van Gelder - Remastering // Ira Gitler - Liner Notes // Nick Phillips - Reissue Producer // Akira Taguchi - Mastering Supervisor // Bob Weinstock - Producer // Bob Weinstock - Supervisor // Alan Yoshida - Mastering // Ralph J. Gleason - Liner Notes // Martin Williams - Liner Notes // Kazue Sugimoto - Supervisor // Shigeo Miyamoto - Engineer // Shigeo Miyamoto - Mastering // Steve Hoffman - Mastering // Stuart Kremsky - Reissue Producer // Stuart Kremsky - Reissue Production Assistance // Tom Hannan - Cover Photo
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Other Details
- Instrument:
- Saxophone
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