Sonny Rollins and the Big Brass

Sonny Rollins and the Big Brass
Studio album by Sonny Rollins
Released	1958
Recorded	July 10 & 11 1958
Genre	Jazz
Length	63:36
Label	MetroJazz
Sonny Rollins chronology
Freedom Suite (1958) Sonny Rollins and the Big Brass (1958) Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders (1958)

Sonny Rollins and the Big Brass is an album by jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, recorded for the MetroJazz label, later reissued on Verve Records as Brass & Trio.

Featuring performances by Rollins with Henry Grimes and Specs Wright and a big band featuring Nat Adderley, Reunald Jones, Ernie Royal, Clark Terry, Billy Byers, Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Rehak, Don Butterfield, Dick Katz, René Thomas and Roy Haynes, the album was conducted by Ernie Wilkins.^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[3]

The Allmusic review by Ken Dryden states: "Big Brass is an appropriate name for the large ensemble arranged and conducted by Ernie Wilkins that accompanies the huge sound of Sonny Rollins… Also added to this compilation are trio recordings with bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Specs Wright, including a brilliant leisurely stroll through 'Manhattan,' along with Rollins' tour de force unaccompanied tenor sax on 'Body and Soul'. Another bonus is the presence of four tracks recorded at the Music Inn with three-quarters of the Modern Jazz Quartet."^[2]

Track listing

1. "Grand Street" (Sonny Rollins) - 6:04
2. "Far Out East" (Ernie Wilkins) - 4:31
3. "Who Cares?" (Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin) - 3:56
4. "Love Is a Simple Thing" (June Carroll, Arthur Siegel) - 3:01
5. "What's My Name?" (David Saxon, Robert Wells) - 3:46
6. "If You Were the Only Girl in the World" (Nat. D. Ayer, Clifford Grey) - 5:08
7. "Manhattan" (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) - 4:28
8. "Body and Soul" (Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour) - 4:17
9. "Doxy" (Rollins) - 7:58 Bonus track on CD rerelease
10. "Limehouse Blues" (Philip Braham, Douglas Furber) - 6:32 Bonus track on CD rerelease
11. "I'll Follow My Secret Heart" (Noël Coward) - 5:31 Bonus track on CD rerelease
12. "You Are Too Beautiful" (Hart, Rodgers)- 6:07 Bonus track on CD rerelease
13. "Grand Street" [Mono LP Ending] (Rollins) - 1:09 Bonus track on CD rerelease
14. "Grand Street" [Verve LP Ending] (Rollins) - 1:08 Bonus track on CD rerelease

• Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, on October 20, 21 & 22, 1958 (tracks 1-8, 13 & 14) and the Music Inn, Lenox, MA, on August 3, 1958 (tracks 9-12)

Personnel

• Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
• Henry Grimes - bass (tracks 1-7, 13 & 14)
• Specs Wright - drums (tracks 5-7)
• Nat Adderley - cornet (tracks 1-4, 13 & 14)
• Reunald Jones, Ernie Royal, Clark Terry - trumpet (tracks 1-4, 13 & 14)
• Billy Byers, Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Rehak - trombone (tracks 1-4, 13 & 14)
• Don Butterfield - tuba (tracks 1-4, 13 & 14)
• Dick Katz - piano (tracks 1-4, 13 & 14)
• René Thomas - guitar (tracks 1-4, 13 & 14)
• Roy Haynes - drums (tracks 1-4, 13 & 14)
• Ernie Wilkins - arranger, conductor (tracks 1-4, 13 & 14)
• John Lewis - piano (tracks 9 & 12)
• Percy Heath bass (tracks 9-12)
• Connie Kay - drums (tracks 9-12)

References

1. Sonny Rollins discography, accessed October 2, 2009.
2. Dryden, Ken. "Sonny Rollins and the Big Brass > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
3. Swenson, J. (Editor) (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 172. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.