Doxy
September 7, 2006 4:38 PM Subscribe
Sonny Rollins, one of the founding tenors of bop and post-bop jazz, is 76 today. Unlike many other jazz giants who passed away well before they ought to have, Sonny is still going strong.
Rollins became famous with his record Saxophone Colossus which included, among others, the memorable St. Thomas. Sonny also became known for his ability to craft imaginative, articulate solos while playing with just a bassist and drummer (without the benefit of a chordal instrument such as piano to "flesh out" the harmonies).
Happy Birthday, Sonny!
I must say, it is REALLY NICE hearing about people while they are still alive. I can't tell you how many obits I've read on MeFi where I was upset that I'd never even known the person existed in the first place.
So, yay! This guy is still around. I heard about him in time.
I'd love to see more FPPs like this.
posted by Malor at 4:45 PM on September 7, 2006
So, yay! This guy is still around. I heard about him in time.
I'd love to see more FPPs like this.
posted by Malor at 4:45 PM on September 7, 2006
I saw Rollins in Helsinki in 1972, and I remember him onstage for twenty minutes, alone.
Now, any pianist can play alone for hours. But for a solo instrument to enthrall an audience for that long is an achievement, one he is famous for. I could go on....but let's just say he was one of the more inventive players in jazz music.
posted by kozad at 4:48 PM on September 7, 2006
Now, any pianist can play alone for hours. But for a solo instrument to enthrall an audience for that long is an achievement, one he is famous for. I could go on....but let's just say he was one of the more inventive players in jazz music.
posted by kozad at 4:48 PM on September 7, 2006
Saxophone Colossus is the album I'd have with me on the theoretical desert island. It was the one that got me turned on to Jazz years ago and is still my favorite.
I've seen Sonny a couple of times and am currently trying to round people up for the next show in these parts, which is coming up September 17. Looking forward to it!
Happy Birthday, Sonny!
posted by Ickster at 4:52 PM on September 7, 2006
I've seen Sonny a couple of times and am currently trying to round people up for the next show in these parts, which is coming up September 17. Looking forward to it!
Happy Birthday, Sonny!
posted by Ickster at 4:52 PM on September 7, 2006
You can see Young-Hae Chang make sweet, sweet love to various jazz greats, including Sonny Rollins. Not to mention, Metablast.
posted by GooseOnTheLoose at 5:03 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by GooseOnTheLoose at 5:03 PM on September 7, 2006
I'd love to see him live. But I'm going to throw on Way Out West to salute him instead.
posted by bardic at 5:14 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by bardic at 5:14 PM on September 7, 2006
for people who like cheap, a ton of his albums are on emusic.
posted by donth at 5:22 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by donth at 5:22 PM on September 7, 2006
Holy cow, I thought he had died. Saxophone Colossus is one of the great albums, up there with Kind of Blue and Love Supreme. Great post rossination!
Dexter Gordon isn't still alive, is he?
posted by Pastabagel at 5:59 PM on September 7, 2006
Dexter Gordon isn't still alive, is he?
posted by Pastabagel at 5:59 PM on September 7, 2006
I love Sonny, but when I saw him play back in... I don't remember, 98 or so? Terrible. Oh, don't get me wrong, he's still got the chops, and his playing is great, but his music was all pseudo-world smooth jazz. It was very disappointing.
That said, I remember watching the news in the days after 9/11. There was a feature on people lwho lived the towers being evacuated. An older black guy wearing a gas mask and carrying a saxophone case got on the bus, and the reporter asked him what it was. He said, "My saxophone, I take it with me everywhere." Another guy on the bus said, "That's Sonny Rollins, one of the greatest jazz musicians ever." Strange to say, but that was one of the first times I felt really personally affected.
Anyway, Happy B-day, pal.
posted by papakwanz at 6:11 PM on September 7, 2006
That said, I remember watching the news in the days after 9/11. There was a feature on people lwho lived the towers being evacuated. An older black guy wearing a gas mask and carrying a saxophone case got on the bus, and the reporter asked him what it was. He said, "My saxophone, I take it with me everywhere." Another guy on the bus said, "That's Sonny Rollins, one of the greatest jazz musicians ever." Strange to say, but that was one of the first times I felt really personally affected.
Anyway, Happy B-day, pal.
posted by papakwanz at 6:11 PM on September 7, 2006
his music was all pseudo-world smooth jazz
You could say this about much of what passes for contemporary jazz, unfortunately. But in a career as long as his, I guess he's allowed a few mulligans.
posted by bardic at 6:14 PM on September 7, 2006
You could say this about much of what passes for contemporary jazz, unfortunately. But in a career as long as his, I guess he's allowed a few mulligans.
posted by bardic at 6:14 PM on September 7, 2006
Thanks much for this post, although the first thing I thought when I saw the words "Sonny Rollins" was that it was a requiem. Glad that it was a birthday wish instead.
posted by blucevalo at 6:21 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by blucevalo at 6:21 PM on September 7, 2006
the first thing I thought when I saw the words "Sonny Rollins" was that it was a requiem. Glad that it was a birthday wish instead.
You and me both! When I saw the name, I thought "Oh no, not Sonny!" So with special relief and fervor: happy birthday, Newk!
when I saw him play back in... I don't remember, 98 or so? Terrible.
The man's always been notoriously inconsistent. One night it'll be the greatest blowing you've ever heard, the next night it'll be crap; "routine" isn't in his working vocabulary. You pays your money and you takes your chances. I saw him back in that era at the Bottom Line and got lucky. Sorry you had a bad experience.
Oh, and he's also famous for playing with bands that, shall we say, aren't exactly in his league, so be warned. But it's all worth it when he's on.
posted by languagehat at 6:50 PM on September 7, 2006
You and me both! When I saw the name, I thought "Oh no, not Sonny!" So with special relief and fervor: happy birthday, Newk!
when I saw him play back in... I don't remember, 98 or so? Terrible.
The man's always been notoriously inconsistent. One night it'll be the greatest blowing you've ever heard, the next night it'll be crap; "routine" isn't in his working vocabulary. You pays your money and you takes your chances. I saw him back in that era at the Bottom Line and got lucky. Sorry you had a bad experience.
Oh, and he's also famous for playing with bands that, shall we say, aren't exactly in his league, so be warned. But it's all worth it when he's on.
posted by languagehat at 6:50 PM on September 7, 2006
"The Bridge" is a freaking kick ass album. Sonny also plays a mean soprano. Nice post!
posted by Eekacat at 8:55 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by Eekacat at 8:55 PM on September 7, 2006
If you really want to hear him stretch out, try the 1957 Village Vanguard sessions (the first live recording ever made there). Just him, bass and drums when he was at the peak of youthful inventiveness. The stripped-down trio setting really opens up the songs for him to play with, and even if you don't know much about jazz, the solos are jaw-droppingly fascinating.
[minor point, rossination, but in general, I've found Amazon album links to be relatively uninformative. You're almost always better off linking to allmusic.com or a specialized site like allaboutjazz.com. But thanks for the post; he's always been a fave.]
posted by mediareport at 10:07 PM on September 7, 2006
[minor point, rossination, but in general, I've found Amazon album links to be relatively uninformative. You're almost always better off linking to allmusic.com or a specialized site like allaboutjazz.com. But thanks for the post; he's always been a fave.]
posted by mediareport at 10:07 PM on September 7, 2006
Way Out West got me laid earlier this evening. Thanks Sonny and happy birthday.
posted by caddis at 10:08 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by caddis at 10:08 PM on September 7, 2006
Mediareport: good point. In all fairness, this was sort of shoddily thrown-together. BUT, it was, like, 4pm when I realized that it was his birthday, and I wanted to make sure to get it in before I had to leave work.
Also, I'm terribly happy that MeFites appreciate this kind of stuff. I like pulling up a fresh page of the blue and seeing posts about Yo Yo Ma, John Cage, Shoenberg, Dvorak, etc... makes you feel good about the world.
[Full disclosure: I am a music education student.]
posted by rossination at 10:12 PM on September 7, 2006
Also, I'm terribly happy that MeFites appreciate this kind of stuff. I like pulling up a fresh page of the blue and seeing posts about Yo Yo Ma, John Cage, Shoenberg, Dvorak, etc... makes you feel good about the world.
[Full disclosure: I am a music education student.]
posted by rossination at 10:12 PM on September 7, 2006
Review of a Rollins performance from last week's NY Times:
...every couple of years for the last decade, Mr. Rollins, who will turn 76 next week, has descended from Mount Olympus, otherwise known as upstate New York, to perform a free concert at Damrosch Park as part of Lincoln Center Out of Doors. These concerts, always among the most anticipated jazz events of the season, can be relied upon to draw an audience of thousands, rain or shine.
The flock that filled the park on Sunday night was rewarded with roughly two hours of quintessential Sonny Rollins: a performance that surged, flagged and ultimately prevailed. For some in the audience it surely served as confirmation of Mr. Rollins’s godlike stature. For others, perhaps, it was a reminder of why mythology might actually be selling the man short.
posted by mediareport at 10:12 PM on September 7, 2006
...every couple of years for the last decade, Mr. Rollins, who will turn 76 next week, has descended from Mount Olympus, otherwise known as upstate New York, to perform a free concert at Damrosch Park as part of Lincoln Center Out of Doors. These concerts, always among the most anticipated jazz events of the season, can be relied upon to draw an audience of thousands, rain or shine.
The flock that filled the park on Sunday night was rewarded with roughly two hours of quintessential Sonny Rollins: a performance that surged, flagged and ultimately prevailed. For some in the audience it surely served as confirmation of Mr. Rollins’s godlike stature. For others, perhaps, it was a reminder of why mythology might actually be selling the man short.
posted by mediareport at 10:12 PM on September 7, 2006
[Bonus points: name one other tune based on the changes to Doxy].
posted by rossination at 10:18 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by rossination at 10:18 PM on September 7, 2006
A little Sonny mythology, pursuant to Eeakacat's post, do people know why Sonny named that record "The Bridge"? He recorded it after a period of self-imposed retirement, necessary so that he could kick his drug habit. To get back in shape, he used to practice on the Williamsburg Bridge at night.
Can you just imagine? You're walking across the Williamsburg Bridge one night, and you hear this incredible saxophone playing...
posted by fingers_of_fire at 12:28 AM on September 8, 2006
Can you just imagine? You're walking across the Williamsburg Bridge one night, and you hear this incredible saxophone playing...
posted by fingers_of_fire at 12:28 AM on September 8, 2006
Can you just imagine? You're walking across the Williamsburg Bridge one night, and you hear this incredible saxophone playing...
Well, it's certainly one of the most agreeable scenarios I can imagine. Back when I lived in NYC, walking across the Williamsburg Bridge at night wouldn't have been considered one of the wisest things to do, necessarily. Maybe it's nice and safe now, though, what with all the artistes having moved in and all...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:46 AM on September 8, 2006
Well, it's certainly one of the most agreeable scenarios I can imagine. Back when I lived in NYC, walking across the Williamsburg Bridge at night wouldn't have been considered one of the wisest things to do, necessarily. Maybe it's nice and safe now, though, what with all the artistes having moved in and all...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:46 AM on September 8, 2006
Well, you live and learn - Rollins is the inspiration for Bleeding Gums Murphy playing his sax on the bridge in the middle of the night.
Thanks f_o_f.
posted by Joeforking at 1:03 AM on September 8, 2006
Thanks f_o_f.
posted by Joeforking at 1:03 AM on September 8, 2006
caddis wrote: Way Out West got me laid earlier this evening.
For real? Man, that album is magic on many levels. I can relate. Not as recently as I'd wish, but still.
"I'm an Old Cowhand" and all.
posted by bardic at 4:44 AM on September 8, 2006
For real? Man, that album is magic on many levels. I can relate. Not as recently as I'd wish, but still.
"I'm an Old Cowhand" and all.
posted by bardic at 4:44 AM on September 8, 2006
Truly a jazz giant and musical giant. The BRIDGE is one of those amazing musical excursions that we are fortunate to have for long long time. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONNY thanks for the inspiring sounds...
posted by hard rain at 5:27 AM on September 8, 2006
posted by hard rain at 5:27 AM on September 8, 2006
When I saw the name, I thought "Oh no, not Sonny!"
Except for the "Oh," exactly what I thought. Glad to hear otherwise. It is nice to talk about older, not-so-well-known-as-they-should-be people while they're still with us. The few times I've seen him, solo or with a band, he's been excellent.
For some reason The Bridge was almost the first record I ever bought — I didn't even really know who he was — and it's still great, after all these years. Also not mentioned so far here, and worthy of attention, is his work long ago with one of the few jazz soloists ever superior to him, Clifford Brown.
p.s. Speaking of Way Out West, the cover photo is one of the all-time classics.
posted by LeLiLo at 8:01 AM on September 8, 2006
Except for the "Oh," exactly what I thought. Glad to hear otherwise. It is nice to talk about older, not-so-well-known-as-they-should-be people while they're still with us. The few times I've seen him, solo or with a band, he's been excellent.
For some reason The Bridge was almost the first record I ever bought — I didn't even really know who he was — and it's still great, after all these years. Also not mentioned so far here, and worthy of attention, is his work long ago with one of the few jazz soloists ever superior to him, Clifford Brown.
p.s. Speaking of Way Out West, the cover photo is one of the all-time classics.
posted by LeLiLo at 8:01 AM on September 8, 2006
Happy Birthday Sonny!
My favorite album, the white one, "Falling In Love With Jazz."
Got it on my Nano.
posted by nofundy at 8:02 AM on September 8, 2006
My favorite album, the white one, "Falling In Love With Jazz."
Got it on my Nano.
posted by nofundy at 8:02 AM on September 8, 2006
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