This album covers roughly two years in Sonny Rollins' career when he was beginning to emerge as an important force in contemporary jazz. "I Know" was his first track as a leader, taped at the end of a January 1951 Miles Davis date at Miles' insistence with the trumpet legend even playing piano on the tune to boot. Sonny's first date as a leader took place on a snowy December night at the end of that year. The meeting with the Modern Jazz Quartet, in October 1953, showed a new maturity, especially in the rendition of Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood."

Musicians:
Sonny Rollins, tenor saxophone
Percy Heath, bass
John Lewis / Kenny Drew / Miles Davis, piano
Art Blakey / Kenny Clarke / Roy Haynes, drums
Milt Jackson, vibraphone