Jazz for aficionados

I must admit that of all sax greats, Rollins is one that I have least record of.
Somehow his tone or expressing always felt kind of 'hard' to me.
But, Frogman, thank you for your explanation, it kind of 'gives the words' to thoughts.
On the other hand, I liked the 'Bridge' , maybe because of the line up, the overall sound seems different that on the others his albums that I have listened.
Except from 'S.R. and Contemporary Leaders' I have these albums, from his 'later' phase (it was coincidently my 'earlier', in terms of jazz evolution)

'Horn Culture', from 1973.
https://youtu.be/RRsWhwSMXJI

'The cutting edge' from 1975.
https://youtu.be/ubOKAxHbq7g

Somehow, with time, I am going backwards (at least in jazz) to the more simple form of expressions, but I find them to be more substantial.

Orpheus, if I may, please do not look for every oportunity to 'pick up a fight', I realy think its not doing any favours to a thread, aldo some may find it amusing.You know, popocorns with butter and all that....

Alex, I am very glad you like "The Bridge"; personally, I think it's a brilliant record that belongs (and is) in many "best ever" lists. You know, although the brilliance of Sonny as an improviser is heard in just about everything he did and does (!), I agree with you that there are some aesthetic issues in his playing.  You mention "tone".  It's interesting because while his tone is not "hard" and edgy the way that, say, Coltrane's was, and was rather dark and not bright like Coltrane's, one of the very distinctive but idiosyncratic characteristics in Rollins' playing is a very "hard" way of articulating notes and phrases; the way the player attacks the notes with the tongue.  Also, and I think this goes to one of the most interesting and beautiful things about players and their music, it's almost impossible to separate tone from attitude.  You are exactly right, his tone sounds hard because his musical attitude is hard.  Interestingly, while Coltrane's tone is actually "harder" still (in technical terms) his attitude is gentler because of the deep sense of spirituality in his playing; and, what to me, is a sense of humbleness.  I hear neither of those things in Rollins' playing.  Still, Rollins is one of the great improvisers.  He has a very forceful way with rhythm.  To me, while many players seem to play with or TO the rhythm section's pulse, with Sonny it is almost as if the rhythm section is playing to HIS rhythmic impetus; a very commanding player (no humbleness).  

Thanks for the clips.  I don't think there is any "bad" Sonny Rollins record, but I must say that I don't particularly like just about all that he did from the 1970 onward.  I have every record that Sonny recorded as a leader and those two are, unfortunately, not two of my favorites; I have a strong suspicion that they are not your favorites either.  Ironically, and in spite of his brilliance, I don't think that his experiments with quasi-fusion and more contemporary "sounds" are his best efforts.  No reflection on the style of music itself, just not his "comfort zone", imo.  Two other favorites if you haven't heard them:

Probably on even more "Best of Rollins" lists than even "The Bridge" (still my favorite):

https://m.youtube.com/results?q=somny%20saxophone%20colossus&sm=3

And this one, which I think was strangely overlooked in our earlier look at Jazz soundtracks, with arrangements by the great Oliver Nelson:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooizs5p8ZuY

Love all Sonny! My personal favorite. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ix9FAzxNB4

Personal favorite " today".

Alex I don't pick fights, nor do I run from them.