The Last of the Jazz giants Rollins has died at 95. He had not played for a while.
I saw him a couple of times in the Nineties, and took this picture, at a hard blowing concert.
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May you rest in peace!
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Sad news - what a musician and innovator and what a great long life and such a great ambassador for jazz. He hadn’t played for many years but his presence will be missed - until recently he was giving comments in interviews and album notes.
The ‘Sonny Rollins’ Prestige 2LP set from the 70s was one of the earliest LPs I ever listened to. I also got to see him back around 1993 with a band including bassist Bob Cranshaw and his nephew, trombonist Clifton Anderson, which was memorable. May he RIP.
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A great player, and always came across as a nice gentle guy in interviews. The announcement of his death included this quotation:
“I think when the creative person ends, he continues in the next existence. I’m a person who believes this life isn’t the be-all and end-all of everything. A spiritual person doesn’t feel like that.”
Amen.
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Saw him play at the Mansfield Leisure Centre in the 1980s. A wonderful night with Sonny at his freewheeling best. RIP.
Sadly, I never got to see him live, but Saxophone Colossus was one of the earliest recordings I heard that drew me to listen to more jazz. All his music seemed to me to express a generous humanity.
There’s a quite full obituary in the Guardian.
This news reminded me of first seeing film of him on TV walking along Frith St playing the tenor and then walking into Ronnies and playing the same tune in perfect coordination with the band. Must have been late 60s/early 70s and I’ve never seen that clip since. No doubt the Beeb wiped it.
What did survive (wiped by the Beeb but film spools kept by the cameraman) was footage of a fantastic 1974 performance at Ronnies with a band featuring Rufus Harley. That film is priceless.
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A really sad loss. One of my favourite players, with a unique sound.
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I was trying to introduce my wife-to-be to jazz and we watched that programme. Unfortunately the bagpipes were not to her taste.
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Wonderful tone.
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Very sad news.
I love the Freedom Suite.
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Rufus Harley cranking up at the start of ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’ is one of the highlights I think. An audible cheer goes up in the audience on the recording.
Played the concert a bit earlier through my TV and system. Really good stuff. I think I spotted Melvyn Bragg and Richard Branson in the audience !
Very sad news there is nobody left in the picture.
A good innings and great legacy to enjoy.
RIP Sonny and thank you.
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I got to see him twice, once in a club and once in a concert hall. A giant.
RIP Colossus.So sad news,I recently purchased both vynil and SACD Saxophone colossus.
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With the last of the musicians in Art Kane’s famous picture now gone, it really does seem like the closing of an era. (A good obit and suggestions for listening is in today’s New York Times.)
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I would only add that “Way Out West” is one of the most natural sounding albums in my collection. I prefer the MFSL Silver CD to the Doug Sax mastered AP SACD, which, like several other releases, has a bit of reverb added. I’ve read that the original CD also eschews the reverb.
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Great album he shoots from the lip.
A good innings and great legacy to enjoy.
RIP Sonny and thank you.
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RIP Sonny Rollins and thank you very much for your music.
That picture is fantastic, I found this nice reference with commments from the great Sonny Rollins.
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