Sonny Rollins: Saxophone Colossus (JVC XCRD Supermaster - rare!)

Without a doubt, one of the five best jazz albums ever made is this 1956 masterpiece. Recorded in a single day at Rudy Van Gelder's living room/studio, Sonny Rollins earned his place as a legend with "Saxophone Colossus". Aided and abetted by powerhouse drummer Max Roach, pianist Tommy Flanagan, and bassist Doug Watkins, the quartet plays with the precision of a chamber orchestra, and swings just as hard. It's not very often that you hear an album where the musicians are so in tune with each other. From the breezy sway of "St. Thomas" to the final notes of "Blue 7", Rollins and company shows how it should be done. JVC has also added a bonus track. The XRCD remastered edition finally sounds as great (or better) than the original vinyl pressing. No serious jazz fan should be without a copy of this amazing album in their collection.