Sonny Boy

Released in 1961, 'Sonny Boy' serves as a bridge between Sonny Rollins' legendary mid-50s output and his subsequent 'Bridge' era. The album is a compilation of tracks recorded for the Prestige label between 1956 and 1957, including material from the 'Tour de Force' sessions and an outtake from 'Rollins Plays for Bird'. Despite its status as a collection of 'leftovers,' the musical quality is exceptionally high, showcasing Rollins' peak hard bop form. The tracks 'B. Quick' and 'B. Swift' are particularly notable for their extreme tempos, based on the changes of 'Lover' and 'Cherokee' respectively, demonstrating Rollins' peerless technical facility. The title track, 'Sonny Boy,' offers a more melodic and expansive look at his improvisational style. While critics often point to the original session albums as more 'logical' purchases, this record remains a vital document of Rollins' transition into the more experimental and confident leader he would become in the 1960s.