For those unaware, Craft Recordings announces the release of Go West!: The Contemporary Records Albums, a new 3-LP, 3-CD and digital collection that explores Sonny Rollins’ output for Lester Koenig’s revered Los Angeles jazz label.

Newly cut from the original analog tapes by GRAMMY®-winning engineer (and former Contemporary Records studio employee) Bernie Grundman, the 20-track set presents two classic albums from the legendary saxophonist’s catalog: Way Out West (recorded in March 1957) and Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders (October 1958).

Adding additional context are six alternate takes, culled from both albums. Originally released in 1986 on the long-out-of-print compilation album Contemporary Alternate Takes, these tracks allow listeners to hear Rollins and his fellow musicians develop such iconic recordings as “Way Out West” and “Come, Gone.”

Disc 1: Way Out West
1. I’m An Old Cowhand
2. Solitude
3. Come, Gone
4. Wagon Wheels
5. There Is No Greater Love
6. Way Out West

Sonny was one of the big innovators of the saxophone trio format -- saxophone, bass, drums -- and this was his first recording with such a lineup. Getting rid of the piano has several implications. The first is that the harmonies become a lot less obvious to the listener without the piano banging out the chords every few seconds.

The second is that there’s a lot more pressure on the musicians --- particularly the saxophonist, but also the bassist -- to generate interest without using piano solos as a crutch.

There’s a lot more space to be filled in, and in the hands of lesser musicians this space would turn into gaping holes. Fortunately, Sonny Rollins is one of jazz’s greatest improvisers. The fact that he doesn’t have to share solo space with a pianist on this recordings means he can let loose some brilliant, unfettered and uninterrupted improvisations.

There’s a LOT of Sonny’s playing on this album. Sonny’s notorious for the humor/wit in his playing and there’s a ton of that here.

Sonny’s companions on this date for Contemporary Records were bassist Ray Brown and drummer Shelly Manne. Manne was one of the premier drummers on the west coast and appeared on a lot of Contemporary sessions. Manne wasn’t a power drummer like most of the drummers that appeared on Sonny’s east coast recordings (Philly Joe Jones, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, and Max Roach). That means that he’s content to be an accompanist rather than an almost equal partner a la Max Roach.

The compositions offer a nice amount of variety. I’m an Old Cowhand is the kind of semi-cheesy tune that Sonny specializes at transforming and gives the album a great start. Come, Gone is just straight-up fast bebop. Solitude and There Is No Greater Love are intense ballad performances. Wagon Wheels is a medium-tempo jam, and the titular Way Out West closes the album on a jaunty note.

The overall mood is more mellow and introverted than Saxophone Colossus; the album was recorded in the middle of the night, so this is not surprising.

Disc 2: Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders
1. I’ve Told Ev’ry Little Star
2. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody
3. How High the Moon
4. You
5. I’ve Found a New Baby
6. Alone Together
7. In the Chapel in the Moonlight
8. The Song Is You

To me, and many other Sonny fans out there, this album is like being in West Coast jazz heaven, and is a fitting book end to Sonny’s 1957 album, the aforementioned Way Out West. There are a few twists in this one though. While the first West coast album was his debut as a piano-less trio, this one features Hampton Hawes on piano on all but one track, and adds Victor Feldman on vibraphone on track 4 (You).

Sonny was apparently experimenting with ensemble formats because on How High the Moon he opts to be backed only by Barney Kessel on bass and West Coast legend Leroy Vinnegar on bass. For a trio without a pianist or drummer they have a surprisingly full sound. For some reason he dispenses with drums on In The Chapel In The Moonlight, and while I love Shelly Manne, the song works well without him.

The core ensemble is Sonny backed by Kessell, Hawes, Vinnegar and Manne, so it’s like a who’s who on that coast. Just hearing various samples from this album today still convey the essence of this wondrous album, because they do so far better than I can with mere words.p> The bottom line is this is yet another glimpse into Sonny’s ever-evolving musical vision, experimentation and evolution; and is one that continues to shine a light on his musicianship even today.

Disc 3: Bonus Tracks
1. I’m An Old Cowhand [Alternate Take]
2. Come, Gone [Alternate Take]
3. Way Out West [Alternate Take]
4. The Song Is You [Alternate Take]
5. You [Alternate Take]
6. I’ve Found a New Baby [Alternate Take]

Set for release on June 23rd (March 17th digital) and available for pre-order now, the 3-LP edition (pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI) and the 3-CD set both include an expanded booklet with new liner notes by the GRAMMY® Award-winning music historian Ashley Kahn.

Also included is a new interview with Rollins, conducted by Kahn in August 2021. Beginning today, fans can stream or download an alternate take of “You.” Previously unavailable on digital platforms, the recording was captured during the sessions for Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders.

Go West!: The Contemporary Records Albums is part of an ongoing collection of special releases celebrating the 70th anniversary of Contemporary Records, including 2021’s Ornette Coleman – Genesis of Genius, which is available here, and the Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds series, featuring a variety of classic, 180-gram vinyl reissues from the likes of Art Pepper, Benny Carter and Shelly Manne.

Official Purchase Link