Without a Song (Sonny Rollins’s version)

Sonny Rollins (tenor sax), Jim Hall (guitar), Bob Cranshaw (bass) and Ben Riley (drums). From the album The Bridge (1962).

This is the first album that Rollins recorded after his three-year retirement. Since he had no private space to practice, he would go to play to the Williamsburg Bridge, and this is the origin of the title of this album. Since after his return his playing had not changed, the criticisms was ambivalent. However, if one listens carefully, there are details that demonstrate a great deal of preparation and a continuous effort to deepen the interaction between the group’s instruments.

At that time everyone was talking about Ornette Coleman and his free jazz, but The Bridge was a solid piece of work and was quite successful. The main change was the incorporation of the harmonically advanced and subtle guitarist Jim Hall, but unfortunately this wasn’t the big change that jazz was expecting.

The theme starts immediately. The sound of a saxophone and a guitar together presents a novelty. The bridge of the song is played by Hall alone. Rollins begins his solo in an animated way, but without any upheaval. His skillful notes form convincing phrases that give the solo a sophisticated air. Next comes Cranshaw making his solo at a good pace, overflowing with cordiality, and Rollins and Hall make a sound mattress behind him. Hall keeps telling him that without a song the world wouldn’t turn. His notes are clean and accurate creating a coherent discourse and then makes a solo with chords. After that the group leaves Rollins playing without rhythm for a while and then re-exposes the theme.