Volume Two
Tom B. | New Jersey | 11/14/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sonny's most satisfying Blue Note album features an all-star group ( Sonny on tenor, J.J Johnson on trombone, Thelonious Monk and Horace Silver on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and the great Art Blakey on drums). Every musician on this album went on to great fame in the jazz world, so if you're a serious jazz fan, then just seeing the personnel will make you want to buy this. The band on this cd isn't the only good thing, though, the track selection is just superb. "Why Don't I" and "Wail March" are two engaging Rollins originals,and it confuses me majorly why he didn't record them more. "Misterioso", the famous Thelonious Monk tune, is definitely the most known performance on this cd, due primarily to the fact that this is the only time in history where piano greats Monk and Silver peform on the same track. It truly is fascinating to compare their very different styles. "Reflections" is one of Monk's most beautiful ballads and this performance really shows Rollins's sensitive side. "You Stepped Out of a Dream" is a blazing tour de force which showcases the superior solo techniques of Rollins and J.J. and at the end they engage in a great conversation with Blakey. The album ends very gently with an amazing version of "Poor Butterfly" which once again showcases Sonny's sensitive side. This definitely qualifies as one of the best albums of both Sonny's career and Blue Note in general, so if you're a fan of "Saxophone Colossus" or other Sonny albums, or just a casual fan of jazz, then "Volume Two" is right up your alley."
One of the best album covers ever!
Andy Williamson | Chicago, IL | 10/17/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Yeah, I love the cover of this album. Reid Miles and Francis Wolff were stinkin' geniuses. And Sonny and crew are playing pretty good here. I don't consider this essential Sonny, but it does have Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey and Paul Chambers (wow). "Misterioso" and "You Stepped Out of a Dream" are reason enough to check out this solid session."