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
Night Hawk cover

Night Hawk

Coleman Hawkins, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
Matador cover

Matador

Grant Green
Just Coolin' cover

Just Coolin'

Art Blakey
Perpetual Void cover

Perpetual Void

Chris Tordini, Marta Sánchez, Savannah Harris
Human Dust Suite cover

Human Dust Suite

Miki Yamanaka
Snide Remarks cover

Snide Remarks

Bill Stewart
Hub-Tones cover

Hub-Tones

Freddie Hubbard
Reverence cover

Reverence

Charles McPherson, Emperor
Along Came John cover

Along Came John

Big John Patton