Sonny Rollins - The Bridge
- Without a Song 7:30
- Where Are You? 5:12
- John S. 7:44
- God Bless the Child [Alternative Version] 5:50
- The Bridge 5:59
- God Bless the Child 7:30
- You Do Something to Me 6:51
- The Bridge [Alternative Version] 5:19
- Format
- Vinyl LP
- Tracks
- 8
- Colour
- Blue
- Pressing
- 180gBonus TracksColored Vinyl
- Edition
- Limited Edition
The Bridge marked Sonny Rollins' first album after his three-year long self-imposed musical exile. Living on Manhattan's Lower East Side, he was often spotted on the nearby Williamsburg Bridge at night, deep in a rigorous practice session. The album that represented Rollins' comeback was all recorded in a piano-less quartet format, with Jim Hall on guitar, plus Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. 180-GRAM COLORED BLUE VINYL - THE COMPLETE LP + 2 BONUS TRACKS - Contains new specially prepared liner notes by Penguin Guide to Jazz's writer BRIAN MORTON and by Paris' prestigious JAZZ MAGAZINE. LIMITED EDITION
- Without a Song
- Where Are You?
- John S
- The Bridge
- God Bless the Child
- You Do Something to Me
- The Bridge
- Format
- Vinyl LP
- Genre
- Jazz
- Tracks
- 7
- Pressing
- 180gBonus Tracks
180 gram VINYL AUDIOPHILE PRESSING.
- Without a Song
- Where Are You
- John S
- Bridge
- God Bless the Child
- You Do Something to Me
- Format
- Vinyl LP
- Genre
- Jazz
- Tracks
- 6
The Bridge is one of Sonny Rollins's most celebrated albums recording in January - February 1962 and released in the same year. It marked Rollins's return to recordings after his famous three-year sabbatical (1959 - 1961), when he stepped away from the jazz scene at the height of his career to practice intensively.
It was 1959, Rollins he was already one of the most respected saxophonists alive: he had made Saxophone Colossus (1956), A Night at the Village Vanguard (1957), and The Freedom Suite (1958).
Musicians and critics wondered why he stopped recording at his peak but he wanted to refine his technique, expand his sound, and push past what he felt were limitations in his playing. During his break, Rollins would literally practice for hours every day on the Williamsburg Bridge in Manhattan so he wouldn't disturb his neighbors: the album's title is a direct reference to that period of self-imposed exile for his artistic growth.
Rollins chose a piano-less quartet with guitar (which was unusual at the time for a horn-led group) Jim Hall guitarist was highly influential and his contribute inspiring future saxophone-guitar quartets.
By the time The Bridge appeared in 1962, expectations were sky-high: it was seen not just as an album, but as a return statement. Critics initially had mixed feelings (some expecting a more radical "revolution"), but over time the album has become recognised as one of Rollins's most enduring works and is today viewed as a milestone in modern jazz. A personal triumph for Rollins symbolising his artistic rebirth after his sabbatical.
