Sonny Rollins – A Night at the Village Vanguard

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A Night at the Village Vanguard is a live album by American jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins recorded at the Village Vanguard in New York City on November 3, 1957, and released on Blue Note the following year.

Reception

AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 5 stars and stated: “Sonny Rollins, one of jazz’s great tenors, is heard here at his peak with a pair of piano-less trios (either Wilbur Ware or Donald Bailey on bass and Elvin Jones or Pete La Roca on drums) stretching out on particularly creative versions of “Old Devil Moon,” “Softly As in a Morning Sunrise,” “Sonnymoon for Two,” and “A Night in Tunisia,” among others. Not only did Rollins have a very distinctive sound but his use of time, his sly wit, and his boppish but unpredictable style were completely his own by 1957. Truly magical. [Originally released as separate albums, A Night at the Village Vanguard has also been reissued in its entirety, complete with alternate takes.]”

Track listing
A Night at the “Village Vanguard” (LP, 1958)
All tracks from the evening sets except as indicated.

Side 1
1. “Old Devil Moon”
E.Y. HarburgBurton Lane
8:19
2. “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”
Oscar Hammerstein IISigmund Romberg
8:03
3. “Striver’s Row” Sonny Rollins 5:59
Side 2
1. “Sonnymoon for Two” Sonny Rollins 8:46
2. “A Night in Tunisia” (afternoon set)
Dizzy GillespieFrank Paparelli
8:16
3. “I Can’t Get Started”
Ira GershwinVernon Duke
4:54

Personnel

Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
Wilbur Ware – bass
Elvin Jones – drums

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Released: 1958
Recorded: November 3, 1957
Venues: Village Vanguard, NYC
Label: Blue Note
BLP 1581
Producer: Alfred Lion