Tenor saxophone legend Sonny Rollins, 78, has throw open the vaults. Culled from his own archives and that of uber fan Carl Smith, "Road Shows Vol. 1" presents treasured live tracks recorded from 1980 to 2007. These performances carry a sense of abandon and expansiveness often missing from Rollins’ studio work since the ’80s. On the opener, the exuberantly swinging “Best Wishes” (Tokyo, 1986), the saxophonist takes a staggering 35 passes through the 12-bar structure — a fount of ideas, exultation, chops and passion. No one else solos. The closing track provides a vivid counterpoint: On “Some Enchanted Evening” (New York, 2007), a trio performance with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Roy Haynes, Rollins plays with a raspy vigor that belies his age. (Doxy/Emarcy) ***1/2
This article appears in Nov 19-25, 2008.