- Audio CD (20 Nov 2000)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Milestone
- ASIN: B000050MH4
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 228,499 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Salvador |
| 2. Sweet Leilani |
| 3. Did you see Harold Vick? |
| 4. A Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square |
| 5. Charles M. |
| 6. The Moon of Manakoora |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
For nearly 30 years there has been a frustrating disparity between Rollins on record and Rollins in concert. His studio persona has often been dry and confined compared to his tumultuous energy and apparently unlimited imagination when live, and while his Milestone work has rarely dipped below the satisfactory, it has seldom risen above the merely good. However, This Is What I Do is one of his most accomplished recordings for the label. The affectionate deconstruction of Bing Crosby's forgotten hit "Sweet Leilani" has the kind of sardonic gusto that so distinguishes his concert performances, as does the tribute to a fellow tenorist, "Did You See Harold Vick?", whose melodic investigations are as compelling as its joyous funky groove. And "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" bears comparison with his 1998 Barbican tour de force--no mean feat. This CD may not quite rival Saxophone Colossus, The Freedom Suite and Way Out West, but it is four-star stuff none the less, and a noble testament to the tenorist's continuing stamina and enterprise in his 70th year. --Richard Palmer
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This late album from Sonny Rollins shows that the man still has it. Recorded in August 2000, you may only get 6 tracks, but Sonny is still in blinding form on Tenor. The rest of the band are good but none are in the same class.
The whole album is summed up for me by the brilliant opening track "Salvador". A classic Rollins calypso composition. The opening Tenor solo lasts two minutes and following a Piano solo Rollins takes a few more choruses. by the end of this 8 minute track you know you've just been listening to one of the greatest tenor players in the history of Jazz.
The rest of the band are:
Clifton Anderson - Trombone
Stephen Scott - Piano
Bob Cranshaw - Electric Bass
Jack DeJohnette or Perry Wilson - Drums
The track listing is:
1. Salvador
2. Sweet Leilani
3. Did you see Harold Vick?
4. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
5. Charles M
6. The Moon of Manakoora
My only criticism of the album is the production, which is a little to clean for my liking. This is very much a personal thing though and it doesn't warrant a downgrading from 5 stars. If you haven't already got this album and you're a Sonny Rollins fan you should try and get it before it gets deleted. If you're not a fan you should get it to find out what you've been missing.
The whole album is summed up for me by the brilliant opening track "Salvador". A classic Rollins calypso composition. The opening Tenor solo lasts two minutes and following a Piano solo Rollins takes a few more choruses. by the end of this 8 minute track you know you've just been listening to one of the greatest tenor players in the history of Jazz.
The rest of the band are:
Clifton Anderson - Trombone
Stephen Scott - Piano
Bob Cranshaw - Electric Bass
Jack DeJohnette or Perry Wilson - Drums
The track listing is:
1. Salvador
2. Sweet Leilani
3. Did you see Harold Vick?
4. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
5. Charles M
6. The Moon of Manakoora
My only criticism of the album is the production, which is a little to clean for my liking. This is very much a personal thing though and it doesn't warrant a downgrading from 5 stars. If you haven't already got this album and you're a Sonny Rollins fan you should try and get it before it gets deleted. If you're not a fan you should get it to find out what you've been missing.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
14 reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
I think even Sonny might like this recording.
4 Nov 2000
Format:Audio CD
This is his best studio recording in years. Other than the presence on Jack DeJohnette on a couple of tracks, this is Sonny's regular working group. Stephen Scott and Clifton Anderson play a few short, pleasant solos, but Sonny dominates the recording from beginning to end. No barnburners, (all of the tunes are medium to medium-slow tempo), but the Sonny's playing is the warm, lyrical, and filled with imagination and humor. Even though a studio recording will probably never match his playing for those of us that have heard him in a club or concert hall, this one comes close.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Another amazing album from Sonny Rollins...
3 Jan 2001
Format:Audio CD
Perhaps the most amazing thing about Mr. Rollins isn't that he's still producing albums at the age of 70, but that he's still producing amazing, innovative albums. This is no exception.
It starts out with a mid-tempo calypso-like tune which is quite remincesent of his old stanard, St. Thomas. Rollin's playing over this is lively, inventive, interesting, and fresh sounding. Part of the appeal isn't what he plays, but how he plays it. His tone is powerful and awe-inspiring, yet he plays with restraint, and keeps his characteristic playfulness and expressiveness that he's famous for. I'm not saying, however, that his playing is devoid of substance- on the contrary, his playing is full of rich ideas and lines. He achieves the ultimate goal of all jazz musicians- his playing is almost lyrical, telling a story, often not distinguishing itself from the melody of the tune.
I know I'm gushing praise, but I don't do it that often. I doubt there's anyone qualified enough to make any major complaints against this seemingly perfect album. I know I've put this in my collection along with Tenor Madness and Saxophone Colossus, and it keeps finding its way onto my stereo over and over again. I really can't say enough good things about this album, I'd just tell you to buy it as soon as possible.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
70 years young and still blowing with perfection
2 Dec 2001
Format:Audio CD
What can I say, the title of the album says it all...This is what I do. And he does, with exceptional wit and authority. The album starts of with a great calypso hook, "Salvador". Then Sonny plays a rear and enjoyable sweet ballad titled "Sweet Leilani" with a graceful touch. After the groovy "Did You See Harold Vick?" and an elegant ballad "A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square", Sonny ventures into the world of Charles Mingus with a nice tribute original titled, "Charles M.". He exits the album with a sensitive yet stylistic, "The Moon of Manakoora." All in all this album plays beautifully and Sonny really shows strength on improvisation with controlled crooning. At 70, he plays better than most of the young guns today. He is still the master of the sax. Anyone who enjoys Sonny Rollins or Jazz in general will be truly satisfied with this CD.
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