Sonny Rollins 'Legendary' or 'Great' Quartet circa 1970s

Cafe Society
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Sonny Rollins is one of my favourite jazz artists, perhaps my favourite saxophonist.

Over the years, I’ve slowly explored his discography and regularly discovered fascinating collaborations with musicians I didn’t expect. This, by the way, is one of the things I enjoy the most in jazz : realizing that two musicians I like worked together at one point. “Wow, I didn’t know that X and Y had recorded an album together ! I need to listen to this now !”

This how I came across references to Sonny’s ‘Legendary’ or ‘Great’ Quartet. Now, I know he worked with some of the greatest jazzmen of his time but I have no idea who was part of that quartet. I remember it being from the late 70s, which excludes his way earlier work with Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Clifford Brown, Max Roach or the Modern Jazz Quartet.

I know he worked with Tony Williams around that time and Herbie Hancock a bit earlier, both Davis alumni. Could this mystery quartet be related to these collaborations ? Or did I dream this up ?

2

The Milestone Jazzstars?

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This could very well be what I was looking for, thanks.

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…tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, pianist McCoy Tyner, and bassist Ron Carter) in a quartet with drummer Al Foster…

Sweet. I love Sonny (the great one of his generation who is still with us - he is, right?), but haven’t heard his music from the mid- to late-70s.

I got to see Tyner at the tiny Jazz Showcase in Chicago (when it was off the lobby of the Blackstone Hotel). 1989.
/vaguely related reminiscence

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I saw Sonny Rollins at Montreux in 1974 with Rufus Harley and suffice to say, that group was neither great nor legendary. Unless you go in for jazz bagpipes.

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Well, other than the solo on the Rolling Stones’ song “Waiting on a Friend” (!).

(This was released in 1981, but recorded in bits and pieces starting around 1974!).