Way Out West

When Sonny Rollins arrived in Los Angeles in early 1957, he discovered that Ray Brown was also in town with Oscar Peterson’s trio and that Shelly Manne was on hand leading a band of his own. The result was Way Out West (Contemporary C-3530) a March 7, 1957 recording session, which marked Rollins’ very first date in a trio setting and his first recording without the accompaniment of a piano or guitar. The saxophonist was at the height of his career during this period and in 1957 he was named the “New Star” tenor saxophonist in the DownBeat critics’ poll. While the Western theme may seem like the idea of a crazed publicist, it actually sprang from the mind of Rollins himself. In his own words: “I loved the old cowboy movies I saw as a kid. I still love to watch those old films. I am pretty sure that the Western theme was my idea. And it was also my idea for the cover, in which I am dressed like a cowboy.” The complete quartet album Newk’s Time (Blue Note BLP 4001) has been added here as a bonus.