Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet

Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet
Compilation album by Sonny Rollins
Released	1956
Recorded	January 17, 1951 (13) December 17, 1951 (5–12) October 7, 1953 (1–4)
Studio	Apex Studios, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	37:19
Label	Prestige
Producer	Bob Weinstock
Sonny Rollins chronology
Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet (1956) Moving Out (1954)
Sonny Rollins Quartet 10"LP

Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet (also released as Sonny & the Stars) is a 1956 compilation album by jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, featuring his earliest recordings for the Prestige label under his leadership, including four tracks performed by Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet (John Lewis, Milt Jackson, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke), eight tracks where Kenny Drew and Art Blakey replace Lewis, Jackson, and Clarke, and one track with Miles Davis on piano.^[1]

The first four tracks, featuring the members of the Modern Jazz Quartet, had been previously released as the 7" 45rpm EP Sonny Rollins With Modern Jazz Quartet (PREP 1337).^[2] Tracks 5–11 and 13 were featured on the Prestige 10 inch LP Sonny Rollins Quartet (1952)(PRLP 137), which is reissued in its entirety here. Track 12 was released on the 10" compilation Mambo Jazz (PRLP 135).^[3]

"I Know", featuring Miles Davis on piano, was recorded at the same session as four other tracks under Davis's name, using the same musicians, including the young Rollins.^[4] This was Davis's first recording session for Prestige Records and his first with Rollins. Producer Bob Weinstock tried to dissuade Davis from using Rollins, feeling he was not ready, but Davis persuaded Weinstock to let Rollins record a cut under his own name.^[5] The Davis tracks recorded that date were issued on the 10" LP Modern Jazz Trumpets and appeared on the album Miles Davis and Horns.