The Bridge was the first album Sonny Rollins recorded after he returned to the jazz scene in late 1961, following a two-year layoff to practice and reflect during a time of great stylistic upheaval in the music. If the sabbatical added to his instrumental command and his musical understanding, the triumphal return confirmed that this was the same authoritative player of the classic Saxophone Colossus, Way Out West and Village Vanguard albums.
Fronting his new quartet, Sonny Rollins & Co, which included guitarist Jim Halla surprising but brilliantly successful choicebassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Ben Riley, Rollins, in stirring form, played with a high-minded seriousness even deeper than before. He is particularly compelling on God Bless the Child and Without a Song, but the key factor in a striking, emotionally gripping album his interaction with Hall. Whether as a rhythm partner or as a soloist, Hall epitomizes intuition and sensitivity, bringing another reflective dimension to the music.
And the magic endured when they recorded the performances on the under-rated Whats New? a few months later, with magisterial playing on If Ever I Would Leave You and The Night Has a Thousand Eyes.
Tracklisting:
01. Without a Song (Rose-Eliscu-Youmans) 7:25
02. Where Are You? (Adamson-McHugh) 5:07
03. John S. (Rollins) 7:40
04. The Bridge (Rollins) 5:56
05. God Bless the Child (Holiday-Herzog) 7:25
06. You Do Something to Me (Porter) 6:47
07. If Ever I Would Leave You (Lerner-Loewe) 12:01
08. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (Dernier-Barinin) 9:09
09. Don't Stop the Carnival (Rollins) 6:06
10. Brown Skin Girl (Span) 6:44
Sources:
Tracks #1-6, from the album "The Bridge" (RCA Victor LSP-2527)
Tracks #7, 8 & 10, from the album "What's New?" (RCA Victor LSP-2572)
Track #9, from the album "Whats New?" (RCA Victor LSP-2572)
(On the German release only, replacing track #7)
Personnel:
SONNY ROLLINS & Co:
Sonny Rollins (tenorsax), Jim Hall (guitar), Bob Cranshaw (bass), and Ben Riley (drums). On #5 Harry T. Saunders replaces Riley. On #9 & 10 Dennis Charles, Frank Charles, Willie Rodriguez, percussion and six background singers (H. Roberts, M. Stewart, C. Spencer, M. Burton, N. Wright, W. Glover) added.
Jimmy Jones, arranger.
Recorded in New York City, January 30 (#5), February 13 (#2,3 & 6) & 14 (#1 & 4), April 18 (#7), 26 (#9 & 10), May 8 (#8), 1962
Original recordings produced by George Avakian & Bob Prince
Recording engineer: Ray Hall
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, 155 East 24th Street in New York City
This CD compilation produced by Jordi Pujol
Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
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