After a meteoric ascension to fame inward the 1950s, legendary tenor sax human Sonny Rollins had walked away from it all past times the decade's end, embarking on an introspective, almost monastic three-year request to meliorate his technique, during which fourth dimension he would pass upwards to xvi hours a twenty-four hr menstruum playing his sax, alone, on New York City's Williamsburg bridge, in addition to that solitary menstruum of fourth dimension spent practicing on the duet is what gives this album its title. Although critical reception to the album was initially mixed, every bit many had hoped Rollins would own got re-emerged from his sabbatical having developed but about revolutionary novel technique or amongst a markedly evolved mode that differed to a greater extent than strongly from his before work, it was nonetheless a commercial success, in addition to has since larn regarded every bit i of his finest albums, fifty-fifty beingness inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame inward 2015. Featuring Rollins inward a novel quartet that too included Jim Hall on guitar, Bob Cranshaw on bass in addition to Ben Riley on the drums, the album has a spare, subdued sound, which powerfulness survive why the ballads are to a greater extent than oft than non to a greater extent than evocative in addition to memorable than the uptempo numbers, amongst Rollins' haunting accept on the criterion "God Bless the Child" beingness my choice for the standout track, every bit good every bit the i that belike best reflects what it must own got been similar to pass all that fourth dimension playing lone on that bridge.
Tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins' outset recording afterward ending a surprising three-year retirement constitute the cracking saxophonist sounding really similar to how he had played inward 1959, although he would before long start investigating freer forms. In a pianoless quartet amongst guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Bob Cranshaw, in addition to drummer Ben Riley, Rollins explores 4 standards (including "Without a Song" in addition to "God Bless the Child") addition 2 fiery originals, highlighted past times the championship cut. The interplay betwixt Rollins in addition to Hall is consistently impressive, making this prepare a near-classic in addition to a really successful comeback.
Sparse soundless thoughful; carefree soundless deliberate. Sonny's musical note is inward fine form: Typically powerful in addition to muscular, in addition to at the same fourth dimension sum of beauty in addition to complexity. This album for me is a perfect event of why he ranks amongst Coltrane: The talent, the dedication, the forever-seeking, in addition to the fearlessness are all on 'The Bridge'. Highly recommended for historical reference in addition to listening pleasure.
So many times y'all hear virtually the "essential albums inward jazz:" "Kind of Blue" "Blue Trane" "Time Out" "Giant Steps" ect. One absolute essential that y'all don't hear virtually really oft is Bridge past times Sonny Rollins. This is most unfortunate because non only is the musicianship on this recording incredible, but this album too made a restrain frontward inward the history of jazz.
Make no mistake, Sonny Rollins is an incredible player. His tenor saxophone cuts through amongst that boomy, rich musical note that all jazz adicts love. His solos are great, well-developed in addition to exciting. His writing on but about of the tunes on this album is quite innovative in addition to groundbreaking. Everything that Sonny does on this disc is incredible in addition to deeply satisfies the lovers of jazz who hear it. However, in that location are 2 words that tin survive used to clitoris what makes this album stick out from all the other jazz albums of this fourth dimension period: "Jim Hall."
Jim Hall's Guitar function on this recording is really of import to what makes this disc worthwhile in addition to distinguished. He essentially fills the project description of a pianist on the guitar. The result: jazz guitar similar never before. This was i of the outset jazz quartets to role a guitar inward house of a pianoforte in addition to the effects are quite satisfying. Every piddling nuance that Hall adds to the music complements Rollins' genius quite nicely. The chemical scientific discipline is quite incredible. Each of the musicians are in addition to thence into each other's heads that they hit music that is in addition to thence exciting in addition to and thence fresh to fifty-fifty the untrained ear. Basically this entire album is 2 geniuses collaborating to brand unbelivable, lineament jazz inward the presence of a really company bass histrion in addition to drummer.
The album is a must own got for whatever jazz completist. It's a squeamish mix of practiced quondam standards in addition to fresh innovative originals from Sonny that makes for a really fun listening experience. Incredible musicianship is the production of the incredible chemical scientific discipline on this album. Break off from the collective. Recognize the historical importance of Bridge. It volition furnish a pleasant listening sense fourth dimension afterward time.
The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame inward 2015.
Track listing:
"Without a Song" (Edward Eliscu, Billy Rose, Vincent Youmans) – 7:26
"Where Are You?" (Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh) – 5:10
"John S." (Sonny Rollins) – 7:46
"The Bridge" (Sonny Rollins) – 5:59
"God Bless the Child" (Arthur Herzog Jr., Billie Holiday) – 7:27
"You Do Something to Me" (Cole Porter) – 6:51
Personnel:
Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
Jim Hall – guitar
Bob Cranshaw – bass
Ben Riley – drums
Harry "H.T." Saunders – drums (replaces Riley on "God Bless the Child")
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