Artist’s Choice: John Scofield on Sonny Rollins’ “Now’s the Time!” LP

John Scofield

Sonny Rollins' "Now's the Time!" LP

In his playing on these standard forms throughout Now’s the Time! (RCA Victor, 1964), Sonny shows us how he mixes it up to keep his solos engaging: short phrases, long phrases, long tones, fast notes, space, melodies, intervallic structures, thematic development. He uses everything, and it keeps us interested. He never gets bogged down. He’s really on fire on this record.

“Now’s the Time”