SONNY ROLLINS - The Bridge (Reissue w/ 2 Bonus tracks) SONNY ROLLINS

LP - Limited Edition 180g Blue Vinyl featuring the complete album plus two bonus tracks. Includes new specially prepared liner notes by penguin guide to jazz's writer Brian Morton and by Paris' prestigious Jazz Magazine.

The Bridge was the first album Sonny Rollins recorded after he returned to the jazz scene in late 1961, following a two-year layoff to practice and reflect during a time of great stylistic upheaval in the music. If the sabbatical added to his instrumental command and his musical understanding, the triumphal return confirmed that this was the same authoritative player of the classic 'Saxophone Colossus', 'Way Out West' and 'Village Vanguard' albums.

'The Bridge' features Rollins in a piano-less quartet, with Jim Hall on guitar, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Ben Riley on drums.

At the risk of being unable to give Rollins a higher numerical rating when he surpasses this album (and I have every confidence that he will) this set still has to be placed in the superlative class." - ***** Ira Gitler, Down Beat