Tenor Madness cover

Tenor Madness

Released

Rollins borrowed the Miles Davis Quintet’s rhythm section of pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Philly Joe Jones for this 1956 album, and on its 12-minute title track, he invited John Coltrane in, too. This was the only time the two men ever recorded together, and it’s a brilliant encounter precisely because it’s early (Coltrane’s style was still forming; he hadn’t even recorded as a leader yet) and neither man sees it as a competition. They’re having fun, serving the tune, and still making meaningful statements in their own voices. The rest of the album is great, too, especially the ballad “When Your Lover Has Gone.”

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Yakhal' Inkomo cover

Yakhal' Inkomo

Winston "Mankunku" Ngozi
NoFo Skies cover

NoFo Skies

Alex Sipiagin
Astral Traveling cover

Astral Traveling

Lonnie Liston Smith
Characters cover

Characters

John Abercrombie
Prayer Meetin' cover

Prayer Meetin'

Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine
Inner Urge cover

Inner Urge

Joe Henderson