Way Out West

Orpheus Listening Challenge 2026: #25 An album recorded in one session only (25th Album)

7th of March, Thursday night. Sonny, Shelly Manne and Ray Brown enter the studio and, after brainstorming for four hours, record this album. And after knowing those facts, the sound of this one makes sense - it's organic and in the moment. It's also arid, but that's by design - Sonny wanted the album to have the vibe of the dusty and sparse wild west, a place he first visited when recording this album.

For what it is, it's good. The musicianship is there, and the trio let each other play and create while not trying to insinuate themselves. But... It's 1957, so those ideas don't have much to stand these days.