Sonny Rollins - Complete Capitol, Savoy and Blue Note Feature Recordings (2001) CD Rip

Tracklist

01. Capitolizing (B. Gonzales)
02. Professor Bop (B. Gonzales)
03. Audobon (Audobahn) (S. Rollins)
04. Don't Blame Me (Fields-McHugh)
05. Goof Square (S. Rollins)
06. Bee Jay (J.J. Johnson)
07. St. Louis Blues (W.C. Handy)
08. Real Crazy (B. Gonzales)
09. Then You'll Be Boppln' Too (B. Gonzales)
10. When Lovers They Lose (B. Gonzales)
11. Bouncing with Bud (B. Powell)
12. Wail (B. Powell)
13. Dance of the Infidels (B. Powell)
14. 52nd Street Theme (T. Monk)
15. Audobon (alt.-1)
16. Goof Square (alt.-2)
17. Goof Square (alt.-4)
18. Bee Jay (alt.-3)
19. Bouncing with Bud (alt.-0)
20. Bouncing with Bud (alt.-1)
21. Wail (alt.-0)
22. Dance of the Infidels (alt.-0)

This two-disc import set might be (unintentionally) misleading to some because Sonny Rollins is a sideman on all of these dates. Each of them comes from 1949, before he made his debut as a leader. The three groups showcased here are those of Babs Gonzales, J.J. Johnson, and Bud Powell. The most amazing thing is that Rollins was able to move from one band to another, three in that year, as a full-time member, all in one year! The material with Powell (all of disc two) is more than satisfying because the pianist relied on the young saxophonist not only to hold his weight in the ensemble but to provide real blowing in his solos. With Johnson, the pair offered brilliant harmonic interplay in the bebop canon, and with Gonzales, one can here in Rollins' solos his confidence begin to grow to the point where other instruments begin to fall back with each successive tune. While this is for Rollins collectors only, it is a fine collection focusing on the most developmental stage of his career.~Thom Jurek