There Is No Greater Love (Sonny Rollins’s version)

Sonny Rollins (tenor sax), Ray Brown (bass) and Shelly Manne (drums). From the album Way Out West (1957).

With all his experience, Rollins would most likely have no doubts about his own talent. However, he felt dissatisfied on the inside despite his calm outward appearance. Throughout his career, Rollins retired from the scene several times to practice and examine himself.

Schuller’s essay created anxiety about meeting his expectations. Also, he didn’t know what to think about newcomer Ornette Coleman and his free jazz. During his longest sabbatical period, from 1959 to 1961, he was seen walking the Williamsburg bridge in New York playing the saxophone.

The group begins by exposing the theme to a medium-low tempo while Rollins adorns it with quick phrases. The song says there’s no love like the one I feel for you. Rollins then moves away from the theme to perform his solo full of unexpected twists and juggling. There is no better feeling than the one I get from you. Rollins plays with the melody, sometimes approaching it and sometimes moving away. Afterwards, Brown comes in with a solo full of sensitivity. Rollins comes back to say that there is no sweeter song than the one you sing to me, and he keeps playing accompanied only by the double bass, recreating himself in the melody until the end.