Saxophone Colossus

1	St. Thomas 6:48
2	You Don't Know What Love Is 6:31
3	Strode Rode 5:19
4	Moritat 10:05
5	Blue 7 11:17

Barnes & Noble

SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS is the essence of Sonny Rollins, the greatest living tenor saxophonist in jazz. Virile and virtuosic, Rollins practically strides through these classic performances, including his jubilant calypso theme song, "St. Thomas," the steaming bop romp "Strode Rode," a strutting "Moritiat" (better known as "Mack the Knife"), the sculptural "Blue Seven," and the wrenching, deep blue ballad "You Don't Know What Love Is." When he cut the album in 1956 at the tender age of 26, Rollins had already played with such masters as Bud Powell, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and Clifford Brown; COLOSSUS was a stunning announcement to the world that the wunderkind was good and ready to step out on his own. Rollins couldn't have had a better crew onboard either: drummer, and former boss, Max Roach, pianist Tommy Flanangan, and bassist Doug Watkins -- a perfect hard bop unit. With SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS Rollins threw down the gauntlet; 40 years later, he's still the tenorman to beat. Steve Futterman

All Music Guide

Sonny Rollins recorded many memorable sessions during 1954-1958, but Saxophone Colossus is arguably his finest all-around set. Joined by pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Max Roach, Rollins debuts and performs the definitive version of "St. Thomas," tears into the chord changes of "Mack the Knife" (here called "Moritat"), introduces "Strode Rode," is lyrical on "You Don't Know What Love Is," and constructs a solo on "Blue Seven" that practically defines his style. Essential music that, as with all of Rollins' Prestige recordings, has also been reissued as part of a huge "complete" box set; listeners with a tight budget are advised to pick up this single disc and be amazed. Scott Yanow