SONNY ROLLINS "East Broadway Run Down" LP MONO Gatefold Impulse VAN GELDER EX/NM

$

46

AllMusic Review by Steven McDonald  [-]

Around the ten-minute mark of the title track, things get very interesting indeed -- moody and spooky as Jimmy Garrison hangs on a single note, making his bass throb along while Elvin Jones widens the space and fires drum and cymbal hits in all directions. Coming off bass and drum solos that never seem to fit anywhere in the piece, it's a supreme moment of tension-building, one that gets repeated after Rollins and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard restate the theme in unison. This is the sound of Rollins' group working in unity. For much of "East Broadway Run Down," though, the rhythm section is off doing their thing, usually together, while Rollins meanders about in limbo, seemingly trying to figure out what it is that he should be doing. That Rollins was having an off day for this recording is a suspicion that's strengthened by Hubbard's part -- where Rollins is wandering, Hubbard is charging ahead, focused and tight, fitting with the rhythm section, keeping the tension up. The remainder of the album is more on the mark, with "Blessing in Disguise" being quite enjoyable -- it starts out in a cheerfully traditional vein and gradually, subtly, starts to slide off into an improvisational area only to come back again to the traditional, and so back and forth. Rollins floats his sax line around the melody with only occasional excursions toward the outer regions. "We Kiss in a Shadow," though, is charmingly straightforward, a ballad rendering supported by Jones and Garrison locking together on a nice rhythm construction that lets Rollins float around the melody.

Sonny Rollins ?– East Broadway Run Down

Label:

Impulse! ?– A-9121

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Mono, Gatefold

Country:

US

Released:

1966

Genre:

Jazz

Style:

Post Bop, Free Improvisation

TracklistHide Credits

A East Broadway Run Down

Trumpet – Freddie Hubbard

20:25

B1 Blessing In Disguise 12:24

B2 We Kiss In A Shadow 5:35

Credits

Artwork [Cover Painting] – Mel Cheren

Bass – Jimmy Garrison

Design [Cover] – Robert Flynn (2)

Design [Liner] – Joe Lebow

Drums – Elvin Jones

Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder

Liner Notes – Nat Hentoff

Photography By [Front & Back Cover] – Charles Stewart*

Producer, Photography By [Liner Photos] – Bob Thiele

Tenor Saxophone – Sonny Rollins

Notes

MONAURAL on front sleeve (see pictures)

Recorded 9 May, 1966

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Matrix / Runout (Side A [Etched]): A-9121·A

Matrix / Runout (Side B [Etched]): A-9121·B

Matrix / Runout (Both Sides [Stamped]): VAN GELDER

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.