Tenor Saxophone Master Sonny Rollins: "Worktime"

This album marked a comeback of sorts for Sonny Rollins. He had left New york in late 1954 to get his personal life together and shed some bad habits. This date signaled his return to New York in late 1955 and coincided with his joining the Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet, one of the most important Jazz bands of the time. Sonny entered the studio with a young pianist from Philadelphia named Ray Bryant who Miles Davis had recommended for the date. George Morrow was selected on bass. Morrow was a member of the Roach/Brown group and last but not least, drum master Max Roach. Five tunes were done and each performance is masterful and shows Sonny's new-found strength and confidence. The album is the first stepping stone to Sonny going from a fine player to a great player. "Worktime" remains one of Mr. Rollins' finest dates. It's tonight's Jazz Feature don't fail to check it out.