Search - Sonny Rollins :: Sonny Please

THE "SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS" IN A MAGNIFICENT GRAMMY-NOMINATED

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 01/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Five Stars are not enough! This Grammy-nominated CD deserves SIX, showing Sonny Rolllins is STILL "the Saxophone Colossus". Completing the DownBeat Readers Poll 'tri-fecta' win in 2006, Sonny was voted "Jazz Artist of the Year", "#1 Tenor Sax", and the "9/11" concert CD was the 2006 Jazz CD of the Year, but this CD is even better. By winning the 2006 Grammy for "Jazz Instrumental Solo" for "Why Was I Born" on the "9/11" CD, Sonny has not sat on his laurels but is still turning out exceptional CDs and live performances like this one. And "Sonny, Please" ranks as one of Sonny's best, delivered at age 77, no less. Sonny has been a part of my personal musical landscape for most of my life and it's been a wonderful experience to behold, in person and on recordings.



Bassist Bob Cranshaw's association with Mr Rollins goes back to the era of "Our Man In Jazz" on RCA Victor. Bobby Broom's highly inventive guitar is added instead of the usual piano, allowing the group to levitate over floating vamps like on "Sonny, Please". Rollins longtime stablemate and producer of this CD, Clifton Anderson's trombone is spare and exciting in solo and support, blowing hot liquid notes. Rounding out the group are the tasteful drummer Steve Jordan and the colorful percussionist Kimati Dinizulu.



The Pieces De Resistance, the best of the best, begin with the title song, "Sonny, Please", based on a favorite phrase of Sonny's late wife, Lucille, and it is a burning experience. Riding on a three-note pedal point, Mr Rollins uncorks one of his best thematic solos on record. The jumping calpyso "Park Palace Parade" continues the Rollins tradition of including one song that harkens back to his 'Island roots', but it substitutes wonderful thematic 'sound scapes' instead of the usual hyper-active calypso energy of old. The elegant "Serenade" (from the "Les Millions d'arlequin" ballet by classical composer Riccardo Drigo) continues the Rollins fascination with both unusual song choices and with 3/4 time that began four decades ago with "Shadow Waltz" and "Valse Hot" in the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet years. The sonorities he creates on this waltz are mesmerizing. "Remembering Tommy (Flanagan)" is a top-notch blues tribute to one of the most respected jazz pianist/composers of all time who was the pianist on the original "Saxophone Colossus" recording. Somewhere in the middle of "Nishi", is that a hip-hop beat going on? Wow, Sonny stays current! "Someday I'll Find You" is a cleverly-disguised thematic waltz giving way to 4/4 solos: note Bob Cranshaw's beautiful tone and support! "Stairway to the Stars" is pure beauty with Rollin's thick granite-like tone. All in all, this award-nominated CD is a wonderful addition to the Sonny Rollins discography that ranks with his best efforts EVER. May Sonny Rollins continue to garner awards and play with the same heat and inventiveness for years to come. Bravo, Sonny!! My Highest Recommendation. Five HUGE Stars!!



(Notes:

*This review is based on an ITunes digital download.

*Can you find the multiple humorous quotes of "Oh Susanna", among others? These quotes are a Rollins trademark and an 'in-joke' with the fans. On the 2004 Grammy-winning "This Is What I Do" CD, there were quotes from "Shimmy Like My Sister Kate", and "I'm Just Wild About Harry" from the song "Did You See Harold Vick?" The trick is to make them fit the circumstances and they do, beautifully so.)"

Sonny Please....thanks, and keep rollin!

Allan Harmeyer | Way out West | 02/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I caught Sonny in a live performance this past November, so I got to hear at least 3 tracks off of his most current album...Sonny Please. He opened the set with a fiery "Sonny Please" which smoked for a good 15 minutes (I believe that Victor Lewis was on traps that night so the percussion section helped do the driving). For a man approaching 77 years of age, I was impressed with not only Sonny's playing and gracious presence, but his stamina in performing two 40 - 50 minute sets. Trust me, the man can still play! This album may not be another "Saxophone Colossus" or "The Bridge", but it is a solid recording and should satisfy a majority of Sonny's fans. If you have no recorded music by this jazz legend, this CD is a respectable starting point."

Somewhat sentimental jazz with some latin and bop

Yrusac Sim? | Amsterdam, the Netherlands | 10/30/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Listen to this album if you don't object that the majority of jazz these days is still strongly based in bop, if you don't object to the occasional latin influences, or if you are simply a fan of Rollins. However, if you are more into some more exciting, tenser, or simply darker music (be it jazz or not), and if you have a hard time listening to things that lean towards sentimentality, this is not an album for you.



There is quite a difference between the first and second half of the album though. Rollins seems to want to make sure to attract the attention of hardbop adapts on the first track, and go for some latin on track two. Apart from that, the album consists of ballads mostly, which are actually not bad and have decent solos. The only exciting track, if you ask me, is the title song. Considering the electronic bass and guitar, the basis of the music invites for a relaxing listening experience."