A game of two halves stylistically, but each team plays to its strengths. Recorded in the studio by Swiss radio, the afternoon before a concert by these bands, the Rollins material is already familiar from a second-generation copy (last released on Solar's Live In Europe 1959 set, reviewed in Jazzwise 162) but, as far as I'm aware, Silver's performance is previously unknown to discographers. Done shortly after Finger Poppin', the first Blue Note album with this version of the quintet, the group is already rocking, with Cook very much in Mobley mode and Mitchell displaying a wide range emotionally. Their five tracks include versions of Horace's greatest hits up till then, ‘Nica’s Dream', ‘Ecaroh’ and ‘Señor Blues’. Rollins at this period was recognisably linked to hard-bop territory and, apart from a short ‘Oleo’, his 24-minute programme is all standard songs, but the harmonic and rhythmic twists he puts them through need to be heard to be believed. It's hardly necessary to say that Grimes and LaRoca are on the case, but Sonny is so sure-footed that it's hard to realise he was just about to retire for two years – because of dissatisfaction with his playing.