Night at the Village Vanguard [Complete]

Read About This Recording

Sobriquets like the world's greatest saxophonist and the world's greatest improviser are often applied to Sonny Rollins. That's a lot to live up to, yet who would call him that if he couldn't play with such commanding intensity and creativity? He is now in his sixth decade as a vital working musician. This is Rollins' riveting first appearance as a bandleader and the first live recording ever made at New York City's infamous Village Vanguard. Both are still going strong.

A Night at the Village Vanguard includes a rare track recorded there by day, A Night in Tunisia, from an afternoon set with bassist Donald Bailey and drummer Pete La Roca. The rest of the tracks feature Wilbur Ware on bass and John Coltrane's future drummer Elvin Jones on drums. Included is an alternate take of Softly As in a Morning Sunrise and Rollins' swinging sonic serenade, Sonnymoon for Two.

Remastered by original engineer Rudy Van Gelder with photos by Francis Wolff, original liner notes by Leonard Feather and new notes by Bob Blumenthal.

-Richard Antone

Quotes

He has been my greatest inspiration. -Freddie Hubbard

Product Info

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Contents

Remastered!

A Night in Tunisia*; I've Got You Under My Skin; Softly As in a Morning Sunrise*; Four; Introduction; Woody 'n' You; Introduction; Old Devil Moon; What is This Thing Called Love; Softly As in a Morning Sunrise; Sonnymoon for Two; I Can't Get Started; I'll Remember April; Get Happy*; Striver's Row; All the Things You Are.

(*Includes alternate takes or versions.)

Sonny Rollins, Tenor Sax; Pete La Roca, Elvin Jones, Drums; Wilbur Ware, Donald Bailey, Basses.

Live recording.