A Night At The Village Vanguard

ロリンズの超名盤の現行CD盤にさらに同時期のピアノレス・トリオによる2曲の追加収録ありの好編集盤。12Pブックレット(オリジナル&ニュー・ライナーノーツ、レア・フォト、オリジナル・アート・カヴァー等。)

A NIGHT AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD is the sound of an up-and-comer becoming a master. At the time these performances were recorded in 1957, sax giant Sonny Rollins had long since graduated from the bands of Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, et al., and had already released his landmark album, SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS. Here he ventures even further into previously uncharted jazz territory, working with only bass and drums, a format that was practically unheard of at the time. He inaugurated the approach earlier in the year on WAY OUT WEST, but this freewheeling live album is where he really explores all its possibilities. Originally released as two separate volumes, these two sets from A NIGHT AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD are heard together here, and one features bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer extraordinaire Elvin Jones sparring with Rollins, while the other boasts Donald Bailey and Pete LaRoca. On both, Rollins is like a jazz genie freed from a bottle, reveling in the harmonic freedom of this setting via demonic, spiraling riffs and evocative, lyrical moans that roam boldly through different modes, making for one of the most exciting live jazz albums of the 50s (and possibly ever).