Sonny's Time was recorded just two months after The Bridge, in the same session that produced the album What's New?. Again produced by George Avakian, the album features Rollins in a quartet format with pianist Don Cherry (actually a trumpeter, but here playing piano), bassist Henry Grimes, and drummer Billy Higgins. The recording was quick and spontaneous, capturing the energy of the moment.
The album has a freer, more experimental sound, influenced by emerging free jazz. Songs like 'Sonny's Time' and 'The Freedom Suite' (an extended version) show Rollins exploring open structures and greater rhythmic interaction. Don Cherry's presence on piano adds an unusual texture, though it was not his primary instrument.
Sonny's Time is less known than The Bridge, but is valued by fans as a sample of Rollins' more adventurous side. Its legacy lies in documenting a moment of transition towards avant-garde jazz, and it has been rediscovered as a key piece of his 1960s discography.