After initially ignoring this August, 1991 CD because Rollins' rhythm section included an electric bass (played by Bob Cranshaw), I reluctantly listened to it after reading a strongly positive capsule review by Peter Niklas Wilson in his book Sonny Rollins: The Definitive Musical Guide . Wilson notes that, in addition to Cranshaw, Rollins is supported by Clifton Anderson on trombone, Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Mark Soskin on piano, Jerome Harris on guitar, and Steve Jordan on drums.
For Niklas, "the inclusion of young trumpet lion Roy Hargrove was more than a mere marketing ploy. In the ballad 'I Wish I Knew' and the up-tempo number 'Young Roy' ( a Rollins original like 'Doc Phil' and the album's title track), Rollins egages in real dialogue with the trumpeter, an honor rarely enjoyed by other horn players. Hargrove seems a little timid in 'I Wish I Knew'-- who wouldn't be intimidated by Rollins' larger-than-life presence? -- but seems more at ease in the exchanges in 'Young Roy.'
Yet as much as he admires the playing of Roy Hargrove, Wilson reserves his highest praise for the saxophone master himself: "But the most stunning title on this spirited album is the Jerome Kern composition 'Why Was I Born.' a non-stop tenor feature. This is Rollins as he is rarely heard in the studio, inspired and risk-taking from the first second to the last, in a tour de force of melodic invention, harmonic ingenuity, rhythmic energy, and sheer joy -- a marvel of the art of improvisation that should convince even the most ardent fan of Rollins' '50s recordings that the gentle giant was still going strong in the '90s."
Highly recommended for fans of both Sonny Rollins and Roy Hargrove. A very enjoyable CD, especially on the two tracks where Sonny and Roy play together.
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