Sonny Rollins Newk's Time CD

The mid-'50s Blue Note date NEWK'S TIME is a shining star in the Sonny Rollins catalog. The title is derived from Rollins' nickname "Newk," so-called because of his resemblance to baseball player Don Newcomb. It is Rollins' fierce strength as an improviser, along with his assembled quartet of stellar guests, which makes this session so special. Still in his 20s, the saxophonist displays relentless imagination and fire in lengthy solos on standards like Miles Davis' "Tune Up" and Kenny Dorham's rhythmically challenging "Asiatic Raes."

Rollins also continues his penchant for reinterpreting popular tunes, with a delightful reading of "Wonderful, Wonderful!" and "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top" on which he and Philly Joe Jones play a masterful sax/drums duet. Rollins' only composition on the disc is his swinging "Blues For Philly Joe" in honor of the legendary drummer who displays his signature style here. Finally, a lightly swinging stroll through Johnny Mercer's "Namely You" puts the finishing touch on a hard-bop classic.

This 2004 Rudy Van Gelder edition of Sonny Rollins' classic Newk's Time album, which places the tenor saxophonist in the company of bassist Doug Watkins, drummer Philly Joe Jones, and pianist Wynton Kelly, features dramatically improved sound (unlike many of the titles in this series that have only marginally better fidelity). However, for those not interested in buying the same classic jazz titles over and over again without something additional in the kitty to attract them, it needs to be noted that there are no additional tracks on this set. The same six selections that were on the earlier edition appear here. ~ Thom Jurek

This is part of Blue Note's RVG series.

Additional Tracks

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on September 22, 1957. Includes liner notes by Joe Goldberg and Bob Blumenthal.

Personnel: Sonny Rollins (tenor saxophone); Sonny Rollins; Doug Watkins (bass instrument); Wynton Kelly (piano); Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Audio Remasterer: Rudy Van Gelder.

Liner Note Author: Bob Bluementhal.

Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (09/22/1957).

Photographer: Francis Wolff.

Personnel: Sonny Rollins (tenor saxophone); Wynton Kelly (piano); Doug Watkins (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Q (p.141) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[H]e effervescently powers through a chestnut-heavy set..."