Tenor Madness (OJC)

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This 1956 outing pairs the tenor great with ‘s rhythm section of the time: pianist , bassist , and . Most significantly, the title track represents the only recorded meeting between Rollins and (also a Davis Quintet member at the time), a fierce cutting contest that finds the two legends pushing each other to great effect. The remainder of the session finds Rollins in a warm, relaxed mood, rolling through a typically eclectic repertoire and adding the lightly swinging original “Paul’s Pal.” His respect for melody and emphasis on tone shine through clearly.
–Marc Greilsamer