Sonny Rollins: Way Out West

Sonny Rollins: sax, Ray Brown: bass, Shelly Manne: drums

I'm an Old Cowhand / Solitude / Come, Gone / Wagon Wheels / There Is No Greater Love / Way Out West / I'm An Old Cowhand / Come, Gone / Way Out West

Way Out West was, in many ways, Sonny Rollins' tribute to the heroes of his childhood - the cowboys of the big screen, whom he idolized in the movie theaters of Harlem during the Depression. "Westerns took me away from reality," he says in a recent interview with jazz blogger Marc Myers. Rollins' comments provide context for the original recording in Myers' new liner notes for the reissue. "My reality wasn't bad," he explains. "It's just that Westerns took me to another place. They gave me hope that a Utopia did indeed exist in life."
But along with this sense of optimism comes a wink and a sly grin, says Phillips. "If you compiled a list of the top Sonny Rollins recordings from throughout his incredible career, this one is certainly among the top entries," says Phillips. "In addition to his phenomenal playing, it's a great example of Rollins' legendary sense of humor in his playing. Doing a jazz interpretation of ‘I'm an Old Cowhand' is just one example of the kind of wit that he is known for. Even the cover photo of Sonny wearing a ten-gallon hat was his idea."
Alternate takes of "I'm an Old Cowhand," "Come, Gone," and "Way Out West" are included as bonus tracks.

Price: $13.98