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Well it's the disco era by the time this album is released and so many people in the jazz and funk world were effected in different ways. Usually it met with mixed results but because Sonny's music was taking on a unique sound that I choose to call funk-bop (there's more on that in my other Sonny Rollins reviews) this wound up being one of his most energized,memorable and creatively satisfying albums of the decade. Not only is Sonny and his band here endlessly abound with creative ideas but also managed to bring the very best out of the musicianship. Miles Davis' drummer Al Foster and guitarist Larry Coryell,himself one of the very earliest architects of jazz fusion in the 60's are the musicians here aside from Sonny who really help a lot in the inspired sound of the music. "Harlem Boys","And Then My Love Found You" and...the troublingly titled "Disco Monk" (meant as a gag by the way) find Sonny deeply inspired by the excellent "funk functioning as disco" sound made so famous at the time by people like Roy Ayers and his mixture of electric and acoustic instruments,especially in the mean rhythm section really allow the tunes to pack a tremendous punch and Sonny could'nt possibly play any better than he does here-not to mention how typically memorable the melodies and general harmonics are. These tunes are prime examples of how great Sonny's funk era sound was and even if the other cuts were lesser these would still make it an excellent album! But it only get's better from here on in and even more creative. "The File" has Larry and this jazzy-funky variation of the Bo Diddley beat on 12 string guitar as he and Sonny jam away on this tangy,uniquely arranged slice of jazz-funk. The title track is the jazzier of these cuts but also maintains a strong soulful rhythm sensability. The same goes for the softer "My Ideal" is kind of an emotional tone poem done in a similar (if slightly softer) manner were Sonny,in his clever style ends the tune with a solo that refers to "Farmer In The Dell". "Tai-Chi" throws in a really great concept adding this Asian modality to the melody and harmonic concepts,a great idea considering how many new Asian musicians were emerging in (and appreciating) jazz in all it's forms at the time. It also features Sonny trying out the lyricon on the errie,ghostly beautiful melody of the song. If I were to recommend anyone to a great Sonny Rollins album of the late 70's this would easily be the one! There's plenty of funk,groove and soul to the music and it's also highly melodic. Even so the music is acoustically textured and musically memorable enough to make those things very pleasing to someone not the least bit into jazz-funk. In short,this is really excellent music for anything you want to do listening to it.

In the Sonny Rollins cannon this would not be in my opinion one of his great accomplishments. The playing is solid Sonny and larry Coryell is wonderful as well. The sound here is very reflective of the times with several tunes featuring 70's disco rhythms. Harlem Boys is a barn burner of an opener and I fondly rememeber hearing Sonny Rollins perform this at the Bottom Line in New York back in the late 70's. Rollins is the most incredible musician I've ever seen live with a a non-stop flow of musical ideas that is almost overwhelming. Harlem Boys captures that feel for me. THis is not n the same league as Saxophone Colossus, Tenor MAdness , the Bridge or many of Sonny's earlier recordings but it is still very good. I deduct one star for the disco sound recognizing that it was refelctive of the times.

I was first turned on to this album by my brother-in-law way back in 1979 when it was first released. I was dazzled by the tracks that include guest guitarist Larry Coryell. My favorites are "Disco Monk" and "The File. The opener, "Harlem Shuffle" just keeps on going to a nice place with Sonny virtually non-stop. Take this along in the car after a long day at work and it will immediately put a smile on your face.