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
Ask the Ages cover

Ask the Ages

Sonny Sharrock
The Elements cover

The Elements

Joe Henderson, Alice Coltrane
Clarity cover

Clarity

Alexa Tarantino
If Summer Had Its Ghosts cover

If Summer Had Its Ghosts

Bill Bruford, Ralph Towner, Eddie Gomez
The Hawk Flies High cover

The Hawk Flies High

Coleman Hawkins
Mingus Ah Um cover

Mingus Ah Um

Charles Mingus
Study in Brown cover

Study in Brown

Max Roach, Clifford Brown