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Reelin' in Reel Life
17 JUN 09 CHRIS SLAWECKI
Recorded and released in the summer of 1982, Reel Life (originally on Milestone) is one of Sonny Rollins' brightest and cheeriest sets. The album sounds more of its time than most releases. It sparkles with the bright warmth of summertime and go-go optimism of the early Reagan '80s.
Rollins' opening, title track bounces saxophone and guitar solos off its rock-steady beat (Rollins closes the set with a solo reprise of this theme). He also composed the cheery "Rosita's Best Friend," which incorporates sunny guitar and percussion solos into its Caribbean rhythm. Accessible and colorful, "Sonny Side Up" pops its singable melody out from its shiny sound, like a Cosby Show backing track. "Best Wishes" steps further in this direction, albeit with a thunderous solo from drummer Jack DeJohnette, who complementarily matches the wit and wisdom of his employer throughout. DeJohnette was the drummer on Rollins' first record after the saxophonist's legendary self-imposed exile (Next Album, Milestone, '72).
Reel Life also offers traditional Rollins fare: Hard bop with the emphasis on hard, he carves "McGhee" with the meaty, robust bop tenor sound that built his legend and still endures; and everybody gets funky to melt the Billy Strayhorn ballad "My Little Brown Book" down into the blues.
The set was the second album in the series that Rollins recorded for Milestone throughout the '80s, a decade in which, judging from album titles such as No Problem and Sunny Days, Starry Nights, jazz's reigning tenor genius must have been feeling pretty good.
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Reel Life
Sonny Rollins, from Reel Life
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Mirror Image
Jack DeJohnette, from The Dejohnette ...
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The Everywhere Calypso
Sonny Rollins, from Next Album
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Illusions
Sonny Rollins, from No Problem
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Tell Me You Love Me
Sonny Rollins, from Sunny Days, Starry ...
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My Little Brown Book
Kenny Burrell, from Ellington Is ...
in this playlist.
