ALBUM STORY
SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS. (Sonny Rollins)
Saxophone Colossus sees Sonny Rollins open up five different worlds with a single quartet. From St. Thomas to the patient development of Blue 7.
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Open in Spotify ↗FIVE PIECES, ONE QUARTET.
Saxophone Colossus was recorded in Hackensack on June 22, 1956. Sonny Rollins plays tenor saxophone, Tommy Flanagan piano, Doug Watkins bass, and Max Roach drums. The five original pieces make a compact quartet sound remarkably expansive. The album revolves around strong melodies and what Rollins does with them once the theme has been stated.
ST. THOMAS STARTS LIGHT-FOOTED.
St. Thomas opens with a Caribbean-inflected groove and a melody that quickly sticks with you. The room to play lies in the rhythm: a phrase can be repeated, shifted, or left open for a moment. Rollins and Roach keep each other sharp throughout. The theme’s accessibility is a starting point for the adventure that follows.
FROM BALLAD TO BLUE 7.
You Don’t Know What Love Is brings out the sound and tension of the melody. Strode Rode and Moritat introduce other kinds of movement; Blue 7 closes the original sequence with a more expansive development of small motifs. Listen especially for repetitions that change a little each time. The solo grows through the interplay of these ideas, while the rhythm section helps shape its direction.
SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS ON LP.
This album works well as a complete listening experience: the light opening, the ballad, and the extended finale give one another meaning. On vinyl, this contrast takes shape across two distinct sides. According to the product details, the reissue on offer includes an extra track. It is not one of the five original pieces. The digital version may also have a different tracklist or mastering from the pressing on offer.
THE RECORD
DISCOGRAPHY.
A selection from Sonny Rollins’s repertoire. Follow the album links for the relevant records or stories.
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
TRACKLIST.
The tracklist as shown for the linked LP release. Reissues and digital editions may include additional material.
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01Saint Thomas
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02You Don't Know What Love is
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03Strode Rode
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04Moritat
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05Blue 7
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06I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
What year is Saxophone Colossus from?
The album was released in 1956. The quartet recorded the music on June 22 of that year.
Who backs Sonny Rollins on this album?
Tommy Flanagan plays piano, Doug Watkins bass, and Max Roach drums.
Which tracks are on the original album?
St. Thomas, You Don’t Know What Love Is, Strode Rode, Moritat, and Blue 7 make up the original five-piece sequence.
Where can I find this LP and the correct tracklist?
The internal product link leads to the vinyl release on offer. Its details, including the extra track and availability, are listed there.
Read the Sonny Rollins Artist Story. Find his records and more stories together on the Sonny Rollins artist page.
Want to listen to this album on vinyl? View Sonny Rollins’s Saxophone Colossus on LP. The product page lists details and availability for the edition on offer.
FOLLOW THE SMALLEST IDEA.
Try following one short motif in Blue 7. Notice how Rollins changes its length or accent, and how the band responds. This makes Saxophone Colossus a practical lesson in listening: the larger development grows out of small, carefully chosen steps.
Discover more records and stories on Sonny Rollins’s ARTIST PAGE.
ON THE SJELF.
Explore at SJELF Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus (1LP, Coloured Vinyl, Waxtime Clear Vinyl), Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus (1LP Vinyl, Jazz Images), Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus (1LP, Coloured Vinyl, Waxtime In Color), Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus (1LP Vinyl, Jazz Images), Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus (1LP Vinyl, Waxtime). The product pages show the vinyl releases and LP format.