Saxophonist Sonny Rollins is unquestionably one of the most influential and important figures in the modern history of jazz. For more than half a century, Rollins and his work have stood as examples of all that is right with jazz because of his talent and creativity. Now thanks to Craft Recordings, that legacy established by Rollins through the course of his decades-long career is getting renewed attention in the form of the brand-new box set, Go West! Released Friday through Craft Recordings, the three-disc collection features the two sole records that Rollins released through Contemporary Records and a third, companion record featuring alternate takes of songs recorded for the albums. Those records and their packaging form the foundation for this collection and will be discussed shortly. While the collection and its packaging form a solid foundation, the collection is not without at least one fault. That fault is actually tied to the packaging. It is in the form of the notes printed inside the box’s front inside cover. It is not enough to doom the presentation but is still of note and will be addressed a little later. The liner notes featured in the box’s companion booklet makes up for the minor shortfall of the notes printed inside the box and work with the albums and their packaging to make for even more engagement and entertainment. Each item noted here is key in its own way to the whole of the collection’s presentation. All things considered they make the box set a mostly successful presentation that fans of the legendary saxophonist and jazz aficionados alike will find enjoyable.
Go West!, the brand-new Sonny Rollins box set released by Craft Recordings, is a largely positive new offering for any casual jazz fan and seasoned fan of the famed saxophonist. The collection’s positive comes in large part through its featured albums and their packaging. Featured in the collection are Rollins’ two lone albums released through Contemporary Records, Way Out West and Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders. Also included is a collection of outtakes from the albums’ recording sessions that was actually previously released in 1987. All three records are presented in their own slipcase type containers inside the larger box, which is decked out in a royal – almost satin – red finish. On the surface this might not seem overly important. However, it is actually very important. That is because unlike box sets released by so many other labels out there, the slipcases used to house the records in this case are actually just the right size. They are near perfect fits for each disc. The result is that the discs will not just slide out. This is something that it would seem so few labels get right when they release box sets in similar fashion. The sleeves are just one general size, so it is easy for discs to slide out far too easily. In being able to just slide out, they could fall and get damaged. So again, having the sleeves just the right size in this case is just as crucial as the albums themselves. That is because in keeping the discs inside, it prolongs their lifespans. To that end, Craft Recordings officials who obviously thought this out are to be applauded for this minute but still so important detail.
While the packaging of the albums featured in this collection is largely successful, there is one minor detail within the packaging that is problematic. The detail in question is the liner notes printed inside the box’s front cover. The inside of the case is lined with a black paper, which makes for a great aesthetic considering its contrast to the red that lines the upper most region of the box’s inside. The problem here is that the liner notes printed inside the case are done so in a relatively dark bronze/gold color. This makes it somewhat difficult to read the liner notes in question. Common knowledge with graphics is that dark on dark does not work, whether in the case of font against color or just in general. It leads audiences to have to strain to a point to be able to read the printed information and does detract at least somewhat from the overall presentation. It is not enough to doom the box set’s presentation, though. To that end, the liner notes printed inside the collection’s companion booklet counter the problem posed by their in-box counterparts and add so much engagement to the set.
The liner notes included in the collection’s booklet were compiled by music journalist/historian Ashley Kahn and are quite in-depth. Kahn notes in her writing, the two albums featured in this collection are important because they were released at perhaps the most crucial point in Rollins’ career, when his star was really on the rise. He went from just being a sideman, at that point – according to Kahn – to really having so much control of his career. At the same time, the period in which the albums were released (1957 and 1958), apparently led Rollins to actually withdraw from the public eye even as his star rose, according to Kahn’s notes. The story there is brief but quite interesting in itself and well worth reading. It makes for even more interest in this aspect. In addition to everything else, Kahn also reveals – from Rollins’ own words – that Contemporary Recordings founder Lester Koenig actually got his own start in the movie business but turned to music after being blackballed as a result of then Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s “Red Scare.” If not for the change in career paths, there is no telling what impact that might or might not have had on Rollins’ own career. It is yet another quite interesting anecdote that adds even more to the depth to the listening experience and the box set’s presentation altogether. When the positive of Kahn’s writings is considered along with the very presentation of what are two of Sonny Rollins’ most pivotal albums and their equally positive packaging (and in fact their positive audio restoration as well), that whole more than makes this collection worth experiencing. That applies whether one is a casual jazz fan or a more seasoned fan of Sonny Rollins and his work.
Go West!, the brand-new Sonny Rollins box set from Craft Recordings, is a largely positive offering from the label, which is known and respected for so many vinyl and CD re-issues that it has handled over the years. Its positives begin with its albums and their packaging. Packaged in this collection are what are considered two of Sonny Rollins’ most important studio recordings. They are joined with a separate standalone compilation of alternate takes recorded during the albums’ sessions to complete the presentation. They are an important documentation of what is one of the most crucial moments in Rollins’ career. The sleeves used to house the records are, unlike sleeves used in box sets from so many other labels (who will remain nameless here) are just the right size to keep the records from just slipping out and potentially getting damaged. This is very important in its own way to the box set. The liner notes printed inside the box do detract from the presentation, but not enough to doom the collection. The issue they raise is countered by the more proper presentation of the liner notes in the set’s companion booklet. The information provided in the liner notes enhances the box set’s presentation all the more and, in turn, increase the engagement and entertainment all the more. When the information provided in the liner notes pairs with the positive of the albums and their packaging (and the equally positive production of each record), the whole makes the collection overall well worth adding to any jazz fan’s home music library. This applies for casual jazz fans and those who are more familiar with Sonny Rollins and his catalog.
Go West! is available now through Craft Recordings. More information on this and other titles from Craft Recordings is available at:
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