Sonny Rollins - Road Shows vol.1 (2008)

Sonny Rollins’ Roadshows Vol. 1 captures seven live performances of the saxophone colossus between 1980 and 2007. The tracks, which were chosen by Rollins himself, are part of an effort to document highlights from his numerous tours in the last three decades. Roadshows Vol. 1 contains remarkable playing that demonstrates the results of Rollins’ evolution from a hard bop saxophonist to a truly unique voice. On the opening track, “Best Wishes,” recorded in Japan in 1986, Rollins sounds as though he can hardly contain himself. Chorus after chorus, his tone is brimming with energy and exuberance. Instead of arching or gradually building, from the first note to the last, his solo sustains a gleaming intensity. At some points during Rollins’ solos, one may get the impression that the saxophonist is inaccurate or even sloppy. While precision may not be one of his priorities, it becomes clear that each smattering of dissonant notes or seemingly rhythmically misplaced run is a result of Rollins’ unfettered style, continually grasping for a hair-raising moment. On “Easy Living,” he alternates between lyrical melodies and blistering atonal passages, underscoring his range of expression. Similarly, on his classic blues, “Tenor Madness,” Rollins at times abandons a hard-driving swing delivery for bubbling, babbling lines that break completely free of pulse and key. He is not completely reckless, although he does simply let go, only periodically reminding the audience that he is still grounded in the form and the harmony. It’s this sort of performance that makes his music so captivating and indelible. The last two tracks were both recorded in 2007, and are examples of what is perhaps Rollins’ greatest skill, something that may have taken a lifetime to hone: to unwaveringly hit upon a specific mood. “Nice Lady” is purely jubilant and celebratory, while “Some Enchanted Evening” is bittersweet and wistful. It doesn’t sound as though Rollins is laboring to evoke those sentiments, but instead it’s as if he has tapped their sources, and his music is a free-flowing manifestation of each.