Way Out West
Context
Composition by Sonny Rollins and title track of the album recorded in Los Angeles on March 7, 1957, under the direction of Lester Koenig, in a pianoless trio with Ray Brown and Shelly Manne. The record mixes this original with western-themed standards such as "I'm an Old Cowhand"; William Claxton's cover shows Rollins as a cowboy in the desert. Scott Yanow calls it timeless; a Contemporary reissue added three alternate takes.
In the genealogy of jazz
This track belongs to West Coast, Hard bop. Among the origins and influences of West Coast: Bebop (Minton's, Monroe's), Cool (Birth of the Cool), Bossa nova, jazz samba.