Sonny Rollins - Alternatives (1962/64)

Sonny Rollins's RCA recordings of 1962-64 found him really stretching out his style, listening to and learning from Ornette Coleman without losing his own musical personality. This CD, in addition to two numbers with bassist Bob Cranshaw and the congos of Candido ("Jungoso" and "Bluesongo") that were originally on the album What's New, has four selections from Now's the Time along with four very different alternate takes. For example, the original version of "52nd Street Theme" was four minutes long but the alternate is 14. The personnel also differs much of the time with cornetist Thad Jones and pianist Herbie Hancock making appearances, but the emphasis is on the exciting improvisations of Rollins, one of the great tenorsaxophonists of all time. - by Scott Yanow, AMG

Tracks:
1. Four (Miles Davis) 7:15
2. Four (alternate) (Miles Davis) 5:52
3. St. Thomas (Sonny Rollins) 3:57
4. St. Thomas (alternate) (Sonny Rollins) 3:05
5. I Remember Clifford (Benny Golson) 2:36
6. I Remember Clifford (alternate) (Benny Golson) 6:04
7. 52nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk) 4:32
8. 52nd Street Theme (alternate) (Thelonious Monk) 14:41
9. Bluesongo (Sonny Rollins) 4:42
10. Jungoso (Sonny Rollins) 10:53

Personnel:
Sonny Rollins (Tenor Saxophone)
Bob Cranshaw (Double Bass) - 5,7,9,10
Candido Camero (Congas) - 9,10
Thad Jones (Cornet) - 5,7
Roy McCurdy (Drums) - 1-8
Ron Carter (Double Bass) - 1,3,4,8
Herbie Hancock (Piano) - 1,3,8

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