SONNY ROLLINS – BRASS/TRIO

Description

Brass/Trio is a striking two-part statement from Sonny Rollins, originally released in 1958 on Verve, that highlights the breadth of his musical thinking across two very different settings. One side pairs Rollins with a full brass ensemble; the other strips everything back to a bare saxophone trio.

The brass session was recorded in New York in July 1958, with arrangements and conducting by Ernie Wilkins. Rollins is surrounded by a heavyweight lineup including trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison, trombonists J.J. Johnson and Jimmy Cleveland, and tuba player Don Butterfield, supported by pianist Dick Katz, guitarist René Thomas, bassist Henry Grimes, and drummer Roy Haynes. The result is a buoyant, harmonically rich setting that frames Rollins’ lines with warmth and swing on standards such as ‘Who Cares?’ and ‘Love Is A Simple Thing’.

Recorded days later in Los Angeles, the trio side features Rollins alongside bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Specs Wright. This pared-back approach brings his rhythmic authority and melodic invention into sharp focus, from the brisk momentum of ‘Raincheck’ to the lyrical poise of ‘My One and Only Love’ and ‘Just in Time’.