Sonny Rollins – A Night At The Village Vanguard : The Complete Masters (3LP)
Tenor sax - Sonny Rollins [click here to see more vinyl featuring Sonny Rollins]
Drums - Elvin Jones [click here to see more vinyl featuring Elvin Jones]
Drums - Pete La Roca
Bass - Wilbur Ware, Donald Bailey
Written by B. Lane (A2), E.Y. Harburg (A2), Oscar Hammerstein II (A3, D1, E1), S. Romberg (A3, D1), Sonny Rollins (A4, B1), F. Paparelli (B2, C1), Dizzy Gillespie (B2, C1, E2), Gershwin (B3), V. Duke (B3), Cole Porter (C2, D2), Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Kern (E1), Dizzy Gillespie (E2), Miles Davis (E3), Don Raye (F1), Patricia Johnston (F1), Gene de Paul (F1), H. Arlen (F2-3), T. Koehler (F2-3)
3 LP, trifold jacket with booklet
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33RPM
Size : 12”
Stereo
Live
Record Press : Record Technology Incorporated
Label : Blue Note Tone Poet
Original Label : Blue Note
Recorded on November 3, 1957 in Village Vanguard
Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder
Original sessions produced by Alfred Lion
Reissue produced by Joe Harley
Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from the original master tape
Liner Notes by Leonard Feather
Essays by Nate Chinen and Bob Blumenthal
Laquer Cut By RVG
Photography by Francis Wolff
Design by Reid Miles
Originally released in 1958
Reissued in April 2024
Tracks :
Side A :
- Introduction 2
- Old Devil Moon
- Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
- Striver's Row (Evening)
Side B :
- Sonnymoon For Two (Evening)
- A Night In Tunisia (Afternoon)
- I Can't Get Started
Side C :
- A Night In Tunisia (Evening)
- I've Got You Under My Skin (Afternoon)
Side D :
- Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (Evening)
- What Is This Thing Called Love? (Evening)
Side E :
- All The Things You Are (Evening)
- Woody 'N You (Evening)
- Four (Evening)
Side F :
- I'll Remember April (Evening)
- Get Happy (Evening)
- Get Happy
Reviews :
“Sonny Rollins, one of jazz's great tenors, is heard here at his peak with a pair of piano-less trios (either Wilbur Ware or Donald Bailey on bass and Elvin Jones or Pete La Roca on drums) stretching out on particularly creative versions of "Old Devil Moon," "Softly As in a Morning Sunrise," "Sonnymoon for Two," and "A Night in Tunisia," among others. Not only did Rollins have a very distinctive sound but his use of time, his sly wit, and his boppish but unpredictable style were completely his own by 1957. Truly magical.” AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
The Saxophone Colossus Sonny Rollins had already recorded three Blue Note studio dates for Alfred Lion-Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins, Vol. 2, and Newk's Time-by the time he walked down the stairs of the Village Vanguard on November 3, 1957 to record his first-ever live album, as well as the first-ever live album to be recorded at the iconic New York City jazz club: A Night at the Village Vanguard. Rollins' tour-de-force live trio album was predominantly captured at the evening set featuring Wilbur Ware on bass and Elvin Jones on drums with two pieces coming from the afternoon set featuring Donald Bailey on bass and Pete La Roca on drums.
This expanded 3LP Tone Poet Vinyl Edition of A Night at the Village Vanguard: The Complete Masters marks the first time Rollins' complete recorded performances from the Vanguard are available in a single vinyl package. Produced for release by Joe Harley, the vinyl is all-analog and cut directly from Rudy Van Gelder's never-before-used original 7.5 ips master tapes by Kevin Gray. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI, the three LPs come packaged in a deluxe tip-on trifold jacket which includes a booklet with never-before-seen photos by Francis Wolff; insightful essays by esteemed critics Nate Chinen and Bob Blumenthal; an excerpt from Aidan Levy's authoritative Rollins biography Saxophone Colossus which provides a riveting behind-the-scenes account of the volatile circumstances surrounding the recording; and a fascinating new interview with Rollins himself reflecting upon the album in conversation with Blue Note President Don Was
Ratings:
All Music : 5 / 5 , Discogs : 4.57 / 5 , The Penguin Guide to Jazz : 4 / 5 , The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide : 4 / 5