Tenor saxophone icon Sonny Rollins: "Way Out West"

Tonight's Jazz Feature is of course a classic and one of tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins' great recorded moments. It was a meeting with two great musicians that Sonny had never played with or met before the recording session! It could have been either a triumph or a disaster but of course it was a triumph and even the self-critical Mr. Rollins likes the results. It was beautifully recorded by Contemporary Records in Los Angeles while Sonny and bassist Ray Brown were in L.A. and with drum great Shelly Manne who had lived in L.A. for many years. It was a great meeting of musical minds. "Way Out West" celebrates Sonny's West Coast adventure with three tunes celebrating that trip. Johnny Mercer's "I'm An Old Cowhand" and the even older "Wagon Wheels" and Sonny's whimsical original called "Way Out West" plus some well chosen standards. It all made for one of Mr. Rollins' true classic albums and it's tonight's Jazz Feature. Don't miss this one!