Sonny Rollins
Tenor Sax Solo on
Paul's Pal

About

Sonny Rollins's tenor sax solo is the opening of 3 solos on this recording, followed by Paul Chambers on acoustic bass. Spanning one chorus of the 32-bar AABA form at a medium-up 155 BPM with a swing feel in G, the solo runs approximately 50 seconds. Rollins's tenor saxophone solo demonstrates his ability to construct a compelling musical statement even within the brief confines of a single chorus, his trademark thematic development operating in miniature as he introduces melodic ideas and immediately begins transforming them. Sonny Rollins was 25 to 26 years old at the time of this 1956 recording.

Sonny Rollins was 25 to 26 years old at the time.