Customer Reviews

Saxophone Colossus (Reis)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The brilliance of this album has been stated many times by people with more jazz knowledge than me. However I thought I should echo what the other reviewer states here: there are some minor problems with this disc. Specifically, there is a flutter on the 4th track "Moritat." I thought I heard it 3-4 different times. It doesn't ruin the music, but you might be tempted to return the disc. The RVG series is stellar so I'm assuming it's a problem with the masters. If that's not the problem then it may be in the manufacturing. Mildly disappointing...

I would like to put in a quick mention of the genius of Max Roach. His technique on the ride cymbal is revolutionary. I could write an essay on it myself! All in all, this is one of my all-time favorite jazz albums.

Wait until this album is reissued again. It would be a shame for anyone to buy this and get the wrong impression. The masters for this reissue are apparently poor on the 4th track Moritat. Returning it to Amazon won't help, the disk is fine, the master is bad. Concord (or perhaps some other company with a little more attention to quality control) should recall these, remaster it and try again.

No CD comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, but the first minute or so of "St. Thomas" -- with Max Roach setting up the calypso beat on his toms and then Sonny coming in on sax -- is about as close as it gets. What a perfect introduction to Sonny Rollins, and maybe jazz in general. "St. Thomas" is the most memorable performance here, due to the insanely catchy melody, but the other tracks are equally rewarding. "You Don't Know What Love Is" is a superb reading of the ballad. "Moritat" (better known as "Mac the Knife") swings along leisurely while "Strode Rode" chugs along at a more hectic pace. And "Blue 7" is a blues (obviously) that allows all four musicians to stretch out, with a particularly inspired solo by Rollins. The two guys that really shine here are Sonny and Max Roach, but you can't forget Tommy Flanagan's always-tasteful piano and Doug Watkin's tight bass playing. Saxophone Colossus is one of the first jazz CDs a jazz newbie should hear, and if you like it pick up Sonny's Way Out West and A Night at the Village Vanguard as well.

[This review is based on the K2 20-bit reissue, which has great sound. The tracklist is identical to the RVG.]

The other customer reviews of this CD criticize the audio quality, but they overlook the fact that this recording is a CLASSIC by any standard. While any criticism of the remastering may be valid, don't pass up this historic work by a true master.

About the flaw in Track 4 "Moritat": It's not a defect in the CD, and it's not a skip in the master, either. It's distortion. Shortly before the distortion there's a drop-out in the tape. I checked this track on the Prestige Profiles Sonny Rollins release, and the distortion isn't present on that version.

Bear in mind this album was recorded in 1956. If you listen to these old jazz albums with high-quality headphones, you'll find the tapes have all sorts of flaws. I was listening to a track on a Grant Green album that had some strange ping-pong dropouts, making me wonder if it would get through the song. It did, but barely.

How the tapes were stored is very important. This remastering was done in 2006, 50 years after Rollins laid down the tracks. I'm not an LP enthusiast, but I think the original LP, mastered when the tapes were fresh, would sound better than digital mastering, regardless of the care that went into remastering. Using original master tapes of older material might not always be the best decision in terms of sound quality. The engineers should pick the best sounding tape of the track, not necessarily the master. A later generation tape could sound better and be in better condition than the original master tapes.

As far as the music is concerned, Rollins, Flanagan, Watkins, and Roach were masters of their art. This is one of the most significant jazz recordings of the 1950s, and RVG did the best he could. There's a reason collectors pay high prices for original LPs. We're lucky to have as much of this stuff as we do.

What else is there to say? This is Sonny's best album. It is an all time classic. From the minute you here the opening calypso bliss of St. Thomas you know you are in for treat. You've got Max Roach on drums, and he never played better. Tommy Flanagan on piano and Doug Watkins on bass round out the group. Blue 7, Moritat, and Strode Rode are all classics. I'm shocked that anyone could rate this anything other than 5 stars. If you can only have one Sonny Rollins CD, this is the one to get. It's legendary.

From totally original albums like The Freedom Suite to the more standard and lyrical The Bridge, Sonny has always convinced me that he is as good as the best. Even with high expectations Saxophone Colossus just blew me away. Definitely one of the greatest jazz albums ever.

Sonny Rollins is simply amazing and truly shows his tenor saxophone prowess. While not doing as many saxophonists choose to do and play notes without regard to phrasing or the style of song, Sonny Rollins builds amazing melodies that are enjoyable to listen to. Of course, at the center of all of these melodies is Sonny Rollins' bold, confident tenor sound. This CD is a must for anyone who loves the strong, bold sound of a tenor saxophone!

In all books about jazz I found this CD highly recommended, I looked for it and when I listened its music I understood the reason.

This CD is a treat from start to finish. I like the mix of well known and not so well known songs, and I especially like Moritat ("Mack the Knife") for its straight forward delivery, true to the original rhythm and swing, and a saxophone solo by Sonny that is unparalleled in recorded jazz history. I've never had any issues with Van Gelder re-mixes, and I can confirm that there are a few blips here and there, but I don't consider them distracting and the music can still be easily enjoyed. Fans of sax jazz simply must buy this recording, and I don't see how any serious fan of jazz can be without it. If you are looking for something to broaden a non-jazz oriented music collection, I think this might be a good candidate for you, simply because the music is so much fun. Let 'er rip!