Sonny Rollins Night At The Village Vanguard CD

Recorded live at the Village Vanguard, New York, New York on November 3, 1957. Originally released on Blue Note (81581).

The Rudy Van Gelder Edition of A NIGHT AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD includes an essay by Bob Blumenthal.

Recorded live at the Village Vanguard, New York, New York on November 3, 1957. Includes liner notes by Leonard Feather and Bob Blumenthal.

This is part of the Blue Note Rudy Van Gelder Editions series.

It's possible to argue that, whereas his contemporaries Miles Davis and John Coltrane hit peaks of creative invention in the 1960s, Sonny Rollins was at his best in the late '50s. A NIGHT AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD, taken from performances recorded in 1957, provides ample evidence for the claim. In fact, these recordings make a case for Rollins as one of the most miraculously inventive and agile soloists in the post-bop tradition.

With the exception of a brief appearance by drummer Pete LaRoca and bassist Donald Bailey, the performances feature Rollins flanked by the powerhouse rhythm section of Wilbur Ware (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums). The fluidity and rhythmic communication among the three is at a keen pitch throughout on a mix of standards and originals, with the second version of "A Night in Tunisia" and "What Is This Thing Called Love" standing out on two discs' worth of standouts. Post-bop doesn't get any better than this.

A NIGHT AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD is the sound of an up-and-comer becoming a master. At the time these performances were recorded in 1957, sax giant Sonny Rollins had long since graduated from the bands of Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, et al., and had already released his landmark album, SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS. Here he ventures even further into previously uncharted jazz territory, working with only bass and drums, a format that was practically unheard of at the time. He inaugurated the approach earlier in the year on WAY OUT WEST, but this freewheeling live album is where he really explores all its possibilities.

Originally released as two separate volumes, these two sets from A NIGHT AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD are heard together here, and one features bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer extraordinaire Elvin Jones sparring with Rollins, while the other boasts Donald Bailey and Pete LaRoca. On both, Rollins is like a jazz genie freed from a bottle, reveling in the harmonic freedom of this setting via demonic, spiraling riffs and evocative, lyrical moans that roam boldly through different modes, making for one of the most exciting live jazz albums of the '50s (and possibly ever).

The original release of this famous live gig from November of 1957 was contained on one volume. It was comprised mainly of the evening set--with a rhythm section of Wilbur Ware and Elvin Jones--and one track from the afternoon set, featuring the less heralded rhythm section of Donald Bailey and Pete LaRoca. The current CD versions of NIGHT AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD, VOLUMES 1 & 2 swap the poetic flow of the original sequencing in favor of a more chronological survey of the afternoon and evening sets, allowing listeners to contrast the differing approaches of two rhythm sections, and Rollins' growing command with each chorus.

Contrast LaRoca's jagged crossrhythms and hand-drum-like phrasing with Jones' airborne vamps and flowing syncopations, and how they affect Rollins. In addition, each drumme

Digitally remastered by Rudy Van Gelder.

2 Cds, 2 Bonus Tracks

Personnel: Sonny Rollins (tenor saxophone); Donald Bailey, Wilbur Ware (bass); Pete La Roca, Elvin Jones (drums).

Producer: Alfred Lion.

Personnel: Sonny Rollins (tenor saxophone); Elvin Jones, Pete Roca, Pete La Roca (drums).

Audio Remasterer: Rudy Van Gelder.

Liner Note Author: Bob Blumenthal.

Recording information: Village Vanguard, New York, NY (11/03/1957).

Photographer: Francis Wolff.

Personnel: Sonny Rollins (tenor saxophone); Donald Bailey, Wilbur Ware (acoustic bass); Pete LaRoca, Elvin Jones (drums).

Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.