Nucleus (Sonny Rollins album)

Nucleus is an album by jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, released on the Milestone label in 1975, featuring performances by Rollins with George Duke, Raul de Souza, Bennie Maupin, Chuck Rainey, Eddie Moore, Mtume, Bob Cranshaw and Roy McCurdy.[1] It was recorded at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA, on September 2–5, 1975.

Nucleus
Studio album by Sonny Rollins
Released	1975
Recorded	September 2–5, 1975
Genre	Jazz
Length	41:02
Label	Milestone
Producer	Orrin Keepnews
Sonny Rollins chronology
The Cutting Edge (1974) Nucleus (1975) The Way I Feel (1976)

Reception

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow states: "This funky date has its moments (including an updated version of "My Reverie") but falls far short of hinting at any new innovations."[2] Music critic Robert Christgau praised the album, writing: "This is as rich an r&b saxophone record as I know, combining repetition and invention, melodies recalled and melodies unimaginable, in proportions that define the difference between selling out and reaching out.... If you really believe you don't like 'jazz,' this is as good a place to start as any."[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Christgau's Record Guide	A–[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Sonny Rollins except as indicated.

1. "Lucille" - 6:08
2. "Gwaligo" - 5:58
3. "Are You Ready?" - 4:08
4. "Azalea" - 4:46
5. "Newkleus" (James Mtume) - 5:17
6. "Cosmet" - 7:20
7. "My Reverie" (Larry Clinton, based on Claude Debussy's "Reverie") - 7:39

Personnel

• Sonny Rollins: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
• George Duke: piano, electric piano & synthesizer (track 1,3,5-7)
• Raul de Souza: trombone (tracks 1-4,6,7)
• Bennie Maupin: tenor saxophone (all), tenor saxophone soloist on 4, bass clarinet (track 7), saxello (track 6), lyricon (track 5)
• Black Bird McNight: guitar (tracks: 1-3,5,6); soloist on 2,3
• David Amaro: guitar; soloist on 1
• Chuck Rainey: electric bass (tracks 1-3,6)
• Bob Cranshaw: electric bass (tracks 4,5,7)
• Eddie Moore: drums (tracks 1-3,6)
• Roy McCurdy: drums (tracks 4,5,7)
• Mtume: congas & percussion (1-4,6), lead guitar (track 5)

References

1. Sonny Rollins discography, accessed September 28, 2009.
2. Yanow, Scott. "Nucleus > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: R". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.