Way Out West

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

When Rollins left, he was at the peak of his career. During the previous four years he had made a large number of recordings in trio and quartet that showed that he was one of the best improvisers of his time. But Rollins was not happy and disappeared for more than two years to increase his dexterity, reading and thinking.

New sounds were heard everywhere. At that time progress was the main aesthetic criterion for musicians, jazz critics and amateurs. Rollins was a changed man when he returned, but his music was still the same to the disappointment of those who thought he would create a new sound.

A nice theme begins that is later tempered, although Rollins starts to make filigree with the saxophone. The song changes rhythm and the double bass walking appears, the drums swinging, and also the Rollins solo, which is unpredictable. Even makes gurgles, but then the phrases become more conventional. Suddenly Brown is left alone with only small drum beats. Then Rollins comes back and they make combinations: first they play all three, then the double bass along with the drums, then there is a short drum solo and finally they play all three again. And in such a nice way Rollins reexposes the theme.