This album covers roughly two years in Sonny Rollins’ career when he was beginning to emerge as an important force in contemporary jazz. “I Know” was his first track as a leader, taped at the end of a January 1951 Miles Davis date at Miles’ insistence with the trumpet legend even playing piano on the tune to boot. Sonny’s first date as a leader took place on a snowy December night at the end of that year. The meeting with the Modern Jazz Quartet, in October 1953, showed a new maturity, especially in the rendition of Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood.”
Musicians:Sonny Rollins, tenor saxophonePercy Heath, bassJohn Lewis / Kenny Drew / Miles Davis, pianoArt Blakey / Kenny Clarke / Roy Haynes, drumsMilt Jackson, vibraphone
