Artists · Jazz
Sonny Rollins. A tenor that tells stories.
Eight albums from 1956 to 1966: three Prestige albums from a single year, two recordings for Contemporary in Los Angeles and three albums from the sixties, including the film music for “Alfie”. Plus three albums on which Rollins plays with Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis. All the Rollins albums are available on vinyl, “Way Out West” also as a UHQR, and “Saxophone Colossus” and “Rollins Plays for Bird” also as mono hybrid SACDs.
Tap a cover – you jump straight to the album.
01 / Who plays next to Rollins?
With piano – or without?
On “Saxophone Colossus” Tommy Flanagan plays piano; on “Way Out West” there is none: then bass and drums carry harmony and form, and each of the three voices can be followed on its own. The chart shows who plays next to Rollins on the eight albums. Tap a line-up or a name – chart and catalogue show the matching albums.
| Album | Piano | Bass | Drums | Also |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Garland | Paul Chambers | Philly Joe Jones | John Coltrane (tenor saxophone, title track) | |
| Tommy Flanagan | Doug Watkins | Max Roach | – | |
| Wade Legge | George Morrow | Max Roach | Kenny Dorham (trumpet) | |
| no piano | Ray Brown | Shelly Manne | – | |
| Hampton Hawes | Leroy Vinnegar | Shelly Manne | Barney Kessel (guitar), Victor Feldman (vibraphone, on “You”) | |
| Ray Bryant | Walter Booker | Mickey Roker | – | |
| Roger Kellaway | Walter Booker | Frankie Dunlop | Kenny Burrell (guitar), horn section under Oliver Nelson | |
| no piano | Jimmy Garrison | Elvin Jones | Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, title track only) |
“He is a colossus – a giant of jazz, of music. As long as humankind listens to music, Sonny Rollins will be there, no matter on what format we listen to him in the future.”
“He is one of my jazz heroes. That’s for sure.”
02 / All albums
All 11 albums, from Prestige to Impulse!
In order of recording, plus Rollins as a guest. Prices and availability come live from the shop.
1956 · Prestige
Three albums from one year: “Saxophone Colossus” in June and “Rollins Plays for Bird” in October, both at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Hackensack, plus “Tenor Madness” with John Coltrane on the title track.
recorded 1956
Tenor Madness
Sonny Rollins
With: Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones
1956 with the rhythm section then associated with Miles Davis – on the title track Rollins and John Coltrane solo together, the only officially released recording where they do. Plus “Paul’s Pal”, Rollins’ tribute to Paul Chambers.
“The Sonny Rollins Quartet with a very special guest, John Coltrane – very important and an amazing collaboration. Tenor Madness is for sure a highlight among these 50 Prestige records.”
Vinyl · 33⅓ RPM1 LP · 180 g · Mono
recorded 1956
Saxophone Colossus
Sonny Rollins
With: Tommy Flanagan, Doug Watkins, Max Roach
One afternoon in June 1956 at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Hackensack: five pieces, the same four musicians throughout – from “St. Thomas” to the extended blues “Blue 7”.
“The Prestige mono recordings – for example Sonny Rollins’ Saxophone Colossus. Unbelievable stuff in that series.”
Vinyl · 33⅓ RPM1 LP · 180 g · Mono
SACDMono
recorded 1956
Rollins Plays for Bird
Sonny Rollins
With: Wade Legge, George Morrow, Max Roach
A tribute to Charlie Parker: the first side is a medley of seven melodies, a little over 26 minutes long, in which Rollins, Kenny Dorham and the trio take turns in the foreground.
Vinyl · 33⅓ RPM1 LP · Mono
SACDMono
1957–1958 · Contemporary, Los Angeles
“Way Out West” as a trio without piano; a year and a half later the Contemporary Leaders with piano, guitar and vibraphone.
recorded 1957
Way Out West
Sonny Rollins
With: Ray Brown, Shelly Manne
Three in the morning in Los Angeles, a trio without piano: western songs such as “I’m an Old Cowhand” next to Ellington’s “Solitude” and Rollins’ own “Come, Gone”.
“Of all the versions I have and know, this is the ultimate one.”
“My heaviest connection to him nowadays is the UHQR of Way Out West: it was one of the three main records in the development of the speaker I built for myself. I used it numerous times for tuning – a perfect record for that.”
UHQR · 45 RPM2 LPs · 200 g Clarity Vinyl
Vinyl · 33⅓ RPM1 LP · 180 g
recorded 1958
Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders
Sonny Rollins
With: Hampton Hawes, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne
A year and a half after “Way Out West”, back at Contemporary, now with piano, guitar and – on “You” – vibraphone: eight songs, no originals, Rollins’ last studio recordings of the 1950s.
Vinyl · 33⅓ RPM1 LP · 180 g
1965–1966 · The sixties
The quartet album “On Impulse!”, the film music “Alfie” with Oliver Nelson and “East Broadway Run Down” with Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones.
recorded 1965
On Impulse!
Sonny Rollins
With: Ray Bryant, Walter Booker, Mickey Roker
A quartet with standards and blues: from “On Green Dolphin Street” via the calypso-associated “Hold ’Em Joe” to the long “Blue Room”.
“A beautiful-sounding album – nice separation, a nice soundstage, very dynamic.”
Vinyl · 33⅓ RPM1 LP · 180 g
recorded 1966
Alfie
Sonny Rollins
With: Roger Kellaway, Walter Booker, Frankie Dunlop
The music for Lewis Gilbert’s film starring Michael Caine became an album of its own: recorded at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in January 1966, arranged and conducted by Oliver Nelson.
“Movie scores played by those jazz giants are, for me personally, always a must-have – and the same goes for Alfie, which comes in the Acoustic Sounds Series in a beautiful jacket. Great stuff – an absolute killer.”
Vinyl · 33⅓ RPM180 g
recorded 1966
East Broadway Run Down
Sonny Rollins
With: Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones
May 1966, without piano: the title track with Freddie Hubbard fills the whole first side at more than twenty minutes; on the second, Rollins plays in a trio.
Vinyl · 33⅓ RPM1 LP · 180 g
Rollins with others
Rollins plays as a guest with Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis.
recorded 1956
Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
Rollins plays: on four of the five pieces – not on “I Surrender, Dear”, which Monk plays alone
Thelonious Monk’s album, recorded in October and December 1956: producer Orrin Keepnews assembled the title track from several takes after 25 attempts, and on “Bemsha Swing” Max Roach adds timpani.
Vinyl · 33⅓ RPM1 LP · 180 g
recorded 1954
Bags Groove
Miles Davis
Rollins plays: on side two, with Horace Silver, Percy Heath and Kenny Clarke
The second side was recorded on 29 June 1954 at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Hackensack, with three Rollins compositions: “Airegin”, “Oleo” and “Doxy” – all three became established parts of the jazz repertoire.
“Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins, Milt Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Percy Heath and Kenny Clarke – Bags’ Groove. Wow.”
Vinyl · 33⅓ RPM1 LP · 180 g · Mono
The Riverside Tenor Sessions
Thelonious Monk
Rollins plays: on the “Brilliant Corners” recordings
The box follows Thelonious Monk through his encounters with tenor saxophonists – Rollins brings architectural strength to “Brilliant Corners”, alongside Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane, Johnny Griffin, Charlie Rouse and Harold Land.
Vinyl · 33⅓ RPM7 LPs
No album matches these filters.
03 / Guide
Where do you start?
The eight Sonny Rollins albums we carry range from 1956 to 1966: three Prestige albums from a single year, two recordings for Contemporary in Los Angeles and three albums from the sixties. Plus three albums on which Rollins plays with Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis. All the Rollins albums are available on vinyl, “Way Out West” also as a UHQR, “Saxophone Colossus” and “Rollins Plays for Bird” also as mono hybrid SACDs. Where you start depends on what you want to hear.
You want to start with a classic
Then take “Saxophone Colossus”: one afternoon in June 1956, five pieces, the same four musicians on all of them. “St. Thomas” invites you in straight away with its Caribbean melody; “Blue 7” is an extended blues in which small motifs change step by step. Pick a short phrase and listen for what happens to it in the next chorus.
You want to hear Rollins without piano
Then start with “Way Out West”: March 1957 in Los Angeles, a session beginning at three in the morning, with just Ray Brown and Shelly Manne. Western songs such as “I’m an Old Cowhand” and “Wagon Wheels” sit next to Ellington’s “Solitude” and Rollins’ own “Come, Gone”. In 1966 he plays without piano again: on “East Broadway Run Down” the title track fills the whole first side at more than twenty minutes.
You want to hear Rollins alongside other jazz greats
On “Tenor Madness” Rollins and John Coltrane solo together on the title track, backed by Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. With Thelonious Monk, Rollins plays on “Brilliant Corners”: producer Orrin Keepnews assembled the title track from several takes after 25 attempts. And on “Bags Groove” Rollins plays alongside Miles Davis in 1954 – with three compositions of his own: “Airegin”, “Oleo” and “Doxy”.
You are looking for something special
“Alfie” is film music that became an album of its own: Rollins recorded sketches in London in 1965 for Lewis Gilbert’s film starring Michael Caine, then developed the material into a separate recording at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in January 1966 – arranged and conducted by Oliver Nelson. On “Rollins Plays for Bird” he remembers Charlie Parker: the first side is a medley of seven melodies, a little over 26 minutes long, in which Rollins, Kenny Dorham and the trio take turns in the foreground.
Which edition suits you?
The three Prestige albums come from Analogue Productions in mono. “Way Out West” is available as a 33⅓ rpm record from the Contemporary series by Craft and Acoustic Sounds, cut by Bernie Grundman – or as a UHQR: two 200-gram Clarity Vinyl records at 45 rpm, mastered from the original analogue tapes according to the publisher, pressed at Quality Record Pressings, in a box. “Saxophone Colossus” and “Rollins Plays for Bird” are also available as mono hybrid SACDs: the CD layer plays on any CD player, the SACD layer needs an SACD player.
Frequently asked
Quick answers
Which Sonny Rollins album should I start with?
It depends on what you are looking for: “Saxophone Colossus” (1956) is a quartet with Tommy Flanagan, Doug Watkins and Max Roach, with “St. Thomas” and “Blue 7”; “Way Out West” (1957) is the trio without piano with Ray Brown and Shelly Manne; on “Tenor Madness” (1956) Rollins and John Coltrane solo together.
On which albums does Sonny Rollins play without piano?
On “Way Out West” (1957) with Ray Brown and Shelly Manne, and on “East Broadway Run Down” (1966) with Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones – where Freddie Hubbard joins on trumpet for the title track. Without piano, the bass provides harmonic orientation while developing a line of its own, and the drums shape the music’s progress.
Do Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane play together?
Yes, on the title track of “Tenor Madness” (1956): it is the only officially released recording on which the two tenor saxophonists solo together. A blues provides common ground; Rollins builds ideas from rhythmic variation and robust fragments, Coltrane answers with longer, densely connected lines.
“Way Out West”: UHQR or 33⅓ rpm record?
The 33⅓ rpm record (ACONC 599) is a 180-gram LP from the Contemporary series by Craft and Acoustic Sounds, cut by Bernie Grundman. The UHQR (AUHQR 0021-45) spreads the album across two 200-gram Clarity Vinyl records at 45 rpm, mastered by Bernie Grundman from the original analogue tapes according to the publisher, numbered and boxed. Both contain the six pieces of the original album.
Which Sonny Rollins albums are available on SACD?
“Saxophone Colossus” and “Rollins Plays for Bird”, both as mono hybrid SACDs from Analogue Productions. The CD layer plays on any CD player, the SACD layer on an SACD player.
What does Michael 45 say about Sonny Rollins?
He counts him among his jazz heroes, and his work will remain as long as people listen to music. He calls “Tenor Madness” one of his very greatest albums and “Saxophone Colossus” absolutely outstanding – and he tuned his own loudspeaker with “Way Out West” on UHQR.
Details from our product texts, years = year of recording (as of 19 Sept 2026). Price and availability live from the shop.
