Liner Notes

Recorded in April 1957, the saxophonist’s 2nd album for Alfred Lion, Vol. 2 , found him in esteemed company with J. J. Johnson on trombone, Horace Silver on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Blakey on drums for a high-spirited bop date.

The 6-song set opens with two rollicking Rollins originals (“Why Don’t I?” and “Wail March”) and closes with interpretations of two popular songs (“You Stepped Out Of A Dream” and “Poor Butterfly”). For the album’s two centerpieces, pianist Thelonious Monk joins the festivities for memorable versions of his compositions “Misterioso” and “Reflections.”

Having first appeared on a Blue Note session as a member of Bud Powell’s Modernists in 1949, Sonny Rollins returned to the label in 1956 to record a series of four tremendous leader dates in less than a year.