Tenor Madness

Sonny Rollins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1956
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B000000Y74
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,809 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #48 in Music > Jazz > Bebop > Hard Bop
  • #62 in Music > Jazz > Modern Postbebop

Track Listings

1. Tenor Madness

2. When Your Lover Has Gone

3. Paul's Pal

4. My Reverie

5. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have for Tenor Lovers, May 7, 2003

By 

A. Wolverton (Crofton, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tenor Madness (Audio CD)

The bad news is that tenor Olympians Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane joined forces in the studio just once. The good news is that it's available on TENOR MADNESS. The title track is battle of two gladiators, exchanging solos with such strength and imagination it's mind-boggling. Coltrane begins the exchange, which is really not a battle but rather a collaboration with Rollins. Although the piece is not really a competition, Rollins is every bit Coltrane's equal during the 12+ minute romp. This recording is astounding and timeless. It literally doesn't get any better than this.

So the CD goes downhill from there, right? No way. Sonny is as relaxed as a late summer morning on the second track, "When Your Lover Has Gone." Red Garland (piano) and Paul Chambers (bass) also takes solos that are as smooth as a velvet rainbow. "Paul's Pal" is a nice groove number with some outstanding brush work by drummer Philly Joe Jones. "My Reverie" finds Sonny floating a soft, smoky vibrato over the rhythm section. The disc concludes with "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," a Richard Rodgers tune that the boys have great fun reconstructing. Great solos by all.

Very highly recommended.

Recorded in 1956
Total time: 35:24

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sonny on top, October 21, 2001

By 

Lefty O'doul "leoramur" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tenor Madness (Audio CD)

To my mind, Sonny's best along with "Saxophone Colossus". The first cut is the most famous, no doubt because of John Coltrane's sharing of the solos. Trane enters the ring first - all over the place and brilliant but Sonny delivers the knock-out punch with comparatively terse and lyrical ease. On first hearing the recording, some 20 years ago, I was more impressed with the first two tunes, but now I find the other cuts even more absorbing - just my taste, perhaps - I meet many jazz fans who are primarily bowled over by speed and pyrotechnics, passing over anything that which doesn't immediately grab you by the collar. Sonny can play like fire but he appreciates melody. "My Reverie" is a great melody and Sonny displays a his supple, gorgeous tone and phrasing throughout. Hearing Sonny's notes here, I visualize a warm, translucent golden sphere - ready to step into, and conducive to ethereal transport. "The Most Beautiful Girl" has a bounding, exuberant groove and tremendous playing by all. Sonny will always reach someone, somehow...so "Vive la difference!"

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tenor Madness!, March 29, 2005

By 

Chris Covais - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tenor Madness (Audio CD)

This was, in my opinion, Sonny's first real important and influential album. The public was aware of his talents, when he replaced Harold Land in the Max Roach/Clifford Brown Quintet the year before, but Sonny hadn't really made a ground breaking album yet. This was it!

Tenor Madness swings in ever which way. There ain't a bad track on the whole album. A masterpiece from start to finish. Though over-shadowed by its more famous father release, Saxophone Colossus, Tenor Madness can hold its own, and it features some of the best tenor saxophone playing by Sonny, and ever in jazz.

The players were top notch too. For the first track, John Coltrane sits in. I believe Sonny thought it was his job to let the new guy blow. Sort of like old man let's young man have a shot. And back and forth solos between them in the song is almost woth the price of the cut alone.

There isn't two saxophonists who play more different. You can easily distinguish Sonny from Trane, and both of their ideas are endless and imaginative.

And joining Trane and Newk was The Red Garland Trio. Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Also know as, the rhythm section of the Miles Davis Quintet. The three worked together on numerous projects, though Garland substituted Art Taylor for drummer Philly Joe Jones most of the time, on Red's solo projects, The Red Garland Trio quickly became Garland, Chambers, and Art Taylor, but the original drummer, Philly Joe Jones is here for the recording.

Red Garland was truely his own man. Very distinct style, with his use of block chords, and melodically swinging approach. After Sonny gives up his solo time and Garland comes in, a beautiful mileau comes over you, due to Garland's colorful and imaginative solos.

Paul Chambers' bass solos, some while using a bow, are extraudinary. Philly Joe had a way of being very melodic when he soloed. His solos are very imaginative and all fit well with the piece. He compliments whom ever is soloing very well, and makes it even more of a joy to listen to.

Though the album opens up with the classic, Tenor Madness, I agree with the other reviewer who was pleased more with the last few tunes, omit John Coltrane.

There is The Most Beautiful Girl started out in 3/4 and which features a very nice melodic drum solo by Philly Joe, and there is the dedication piece to Paul Chambers, Paul's Pal, perhaps the most melodic tune on the whole album. I love when Sonny and Philly Joe are trading solos, and Sonny just finds that special note he likes and just sticks with it, calm and subtle, and Philly Joe just picks up his brushes and solos like nothing ever happened.

This was a unique and enjoyable recording all around. I highly recommend it to anybody into jazz, for a short time or for a while. You can't go wrong with Tenor Madness.