Sonny Rollins With The Modern Jazz Quartet

Sonny Rollins | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: January 17, 1951
• Release Date: November 28, 2006
• Label: Fantasy Records
• Copyright: (C) 1988 Fantasy, Inc.
• Genres: Jazz/Bebop, Jazz/Compilations, Jazz/Cool Jazz, Jazz/Modern Postbebop
• ASIN: B000UBPSPQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Miles Davis on keys..., September 18, 2004

By 

Cedric Westphal "cedichou" (san francisco, ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sonny Rollins With Mjq (Audio CD)

The previous reviewer wrote that the song "I know", the last tune of the album, is "pianoless": actually, quite interestingly, the pianist is quite famous, his name is Miles Davis.
While not as accomplished a pianist as John Lewis or Kenny Drew (the other two who play along Newk here), he does quite a decent understated job. This is the only cd I know of where he's sitting at the piano. Just for this interesting reason, I give it a 5 (the other track won't let you down, even thought the 'sonny rollins with the mjq' is a bit of a misnomer: of the quartet, only percy heath is there throughout, Milt Jackson and John Lewis are only in the first 4 tracks).

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sonny blasts out of the starting gate, October 22, 2004

By 

Andrew Halper (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sonny Rollins With Mjq (Audio CD)

What an amazing recording. I've been listening to the CD (and its vinyl predecessor) for nearly 20 years and Sonny's playing is still as fresh, energetic and inspired as it seemed to me the first time I heard it. It's hard to imagine that this guy used to be criticised for playing standards -- what he brings to bear here is total hard-bop sensibility, but also plenty of non-cloying tenderness and innovation in tackling ballads.

The attack on the opening track (The Stopper) is like an Olympic 100m racer charging out of the starting gate. Impossible to sit still when listening to this music.

If any jazz heads have avoided buying this because of the MJQ assocation, that's a mistake. This recording is mind-blowing.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Modern Jazz Giants, August 24, 2000

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sonny Rollins With Mjq (Audio CD)

"Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet" showcases songs from three different recording sessions in the early 1950s. While the album may be called "with MJQ," only four of the album's thirteen tracks feature Sonny playing with the Quartet (Milt Jackson, John Lewis, Percy Heath and Connie Kay for those of you not in the know). Of these tracks, the standout is Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood," where Jackson's vibe play is the perfect compliment to Sonny's breathy tenor. Tracks 5-12 find Kenny Drew, Heath (again) and Art Blakey joining Sonny, and again a ballad, "Time on My Hands," is the gem of the session. Finally, Heath (once more) and Roy Haynes join Sonny on an early pianoless trio for the disc's final track, "I Know." "With the Modern Jazz Quartet" is a great look at a young Sonny Rollins.