Music Monday: A Monday Music Dump!

I have a backlog of music that has been hanging around in my rotation and that deserves some attention. So this is going to be a bit of a music dump!

First, to celebrate Sonny Rollins’ birthday a few weeks ago, I decided to revisit The Bridge (1962). The Bridge is Rollins’ famous return album after spending three years away from recording to redevelop his sound. He named the album after the time he spent on the Williamsburg Bridge practicing for long hours.

I guess the album was disappointing to many critics who wanted to hear Rollins do something radically different. It was not such a radical break, but Rollins did demonstrate that his sound had evolved. It was different, though, and anyone who felt comfortable with Rollins’ 1950s sound would hear a different performer on The Bridge. It is a great: 

I also have been enjoying some baritone player Hamiet Bluiett lately. I don’t know his discography very well and much of his recorded output doesn’t appear to be on my streaming services. This means, I’ve resorted to YouTubes where I’ve really enjoyed his Resolution from 1977 (and particularly the interplay between Don Pullen and Bluiett throughout). 

Im/possible to Keep is a live gem from 1979 that I’m digging as well. It was released on the India Navigation and predictably hard to find.

I mean, this is neither’s best album, but it is hard to ignore Marion Brown and Mal Waldron together in Songs of Love and Regret from 1986 and Much More! From 1988 respectively:

And:

Since we are already Contrane-adjacent, it’s worth remarking the John Coltrane’s Blue Train was recorded in September of 1957.

Finally, to show that I’m not entirely dwelling in the 20th century, I really like the brand new Nubya Garcia album Odyssey. The b-side in particular is fantastic.