I'm the happiest man alive

September 7, 2020 6:50 PM

Sonny Rollins turns 90 today. A lively and joyful Sonny talks with Dr. Cornel West and Prof. Tricia Rose on their Tight Rope podcast about growing up in Harlem, his pride in being Black, the prophet John Coltrane, practicing on the Williamsburg Bridge, whether America can change, the future of jazz, and the little picture vs. the big picture.
posted by hoist with his own pet aardvark (4 comments total)

And for your listening pleasure, The Ultimate Sonny Rollins Playlist.
posted by PhineasGage at 7:18 PM on September 7, 2020 [3 favorites]

I saw Sonny play at UCLA's Royce Hall sometime in the first decade of the century. When he came on stage he looked like a frail little man whose posture was stooped by the weight of the tenor sax hanging round his neck. So different from the images of him a picture of robustness during his initial celebrity! But then he played with absolute unremitting fire and kept moving all around the rather large stage during the whole show -- stooping the entire time as in a perpetual bow.

What strikes me most about his playing from the recordings I've listened to is how unpretentious it is. There's no self-indulgent spiritual aspiration or posturing, just great detailed comprehensive sax playing.
posted by bertran at 12:31 AM on September 8, 2020 [6 favorites]

I'm happy that Sonny Rollins playlist includes stuff from his work with the Miles Davis Quintet, but I want it to include Freedom Suite instead of 'Til There Was You.'
posted by box at 6:27 AM on September 8, 2020

Love Sonny Rollins. good to know he's still kickin'.
posted by OHenryPacey at 12:04 PM on September 8, 2020