Sonny Rollins is my favourite tenor saxophonist, and is in my opinion the best saxophonist ever. Sonny has a lovely deep, rich tone, right the way from the bottom of his horn to the top. Like many of the great jazz musicians, Sonny was not only a great player, but also a great composer, having ... Read review
Advantages: Possibly the best tenor saxophonist ever - without a doubt the best still alive! Disadvantages: None - if you want to see him live, you should try to soon - he's getting on a bit now - 73 yrs old now - still as good as ever though!
Sonny Rollins is my favourite tenor saxophonist, and is in my opinion the best saxophonist ever. Sonny has a lovely deep, rich tone, right the way from the bottom of his horn to the top. Like many of the great jazz musicians, Sonny was not only a great player, but also a great composer, having written loads of tunes, including St Thomas, Tenor Madness, Doxy, Oleo, Airegin, to name but a few.
Sonny Rollins has recorded many famous C.D.'s, ... ...Both of these C.D's feature Sonny Rollins in full swing, at the top of his playing, with his classic tone and characteristic phrasing and solo's.
Throughout his life, Sonny Rollins had a chance to play and record with many jazz greats, having already done so with Babs Gonzalez, J.J. Johnson, Bud Powell and Miles Davis before he turned twenty, and also benefitting from having Thelonius Monk as a mentor.
Sonny Rollins is my favourite tenor saxophonist, and is in my opinion the best saxophonist ever. Sonny has a lovely deep, rich tone, right the way from the bottom of his horn to the top. Like many of the great jazz musicians, Sonny was not only a great player, but also a great composer, having written loads of tunes, including St Thomas, Tenor Madness, Doxy, Oleo, Airegin, to name but a few.
Sonny Rollins has recorded many famous C.D.'s, but perhaps his best two, and my favourite are saxophone colossus and tenor madness (featuring a stunning recording of tenor madness with coltrane and rollins playing together!) Both of these C.D's feature Sonny Rollins in full swing, at the top of his playing, with his classic tone and characteristic phrasing and solo's.
Throughout his life, Sonny Rollins had a chance to play and record with many jazz greats, having already done so with Babs Gonzalez, J.J. Johnson, Bud Powell and Miles Davis before he turned twenty, and also benefitting from having Thelonius Monk as a mentor.
Later in his life, during the mid-sixties, Rollins stopped playing in public and tried to get into religion, and especially eastern religions, spending time in Japan and India, and also spending a lot of time in a monastry. In the 70's however, Sonny resurfaced again and returned to recording and playing again, making his next recording in 1972, and is still going strong.
Recently, I had the chance to see Sonny Rollins playing in a rare appearance at the Barbican in London, and I must say that he was absolutely fantastic. Although he may now look slightly older, his playing is still as good as when he was younger and on those classic recordings of his, if not even better!
I think that all saxophonists should have the chance to see Sonny play, one of the greatest saxophonists ever, and if not, they should at least listen to some of his recordings.
Some CD's to check out are: Saxophone Colossus, Tenor Madness, Way Out West, Thelonius Monk and Sonny Rollins, Sonny Side Up (with Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Stitt).
Advantages: A great jazz trumpeter - one of my favourites Disadvantages: Often not listened to as much as he should be because of the fame of Miles Davis
Dizzy Gillespie (full name John "Dizzy" Gillespie) was a great jazz trumpeter, having worked with many great jazz musicians, notably with Charlie Parker, and he even once played piano on some Charlie Parker recordings when Miles Davis was playing trumpet.
Watching Dizzy Gillespie play is fantastic, if also a little amusing. He has a speicially made trumpet, with the bell sticking up in the air to give him greater projection. Also, when he plays, he puffs his cheeks out a lot (as all trumpeters these days are told not to!), to allow him to do circular breathing, and it has the effect of pushing his glasses up when his cheeks puff out!
While Dizzy Gillespie showed his true skill and ability to play fast, frenetic phrases in his recordings with Charlie Parker, he also recorded with the likes of SonnyRollins, Sonny Stitt and Stan ...
their nightmares.
HAVE YOU SEEN ANYONE LIVE IN CONCERT?
Quite a few back in the sixties, inc. The Doors, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Jefferson Airplane, Jethro Tull.
Also various jazz ? inc. Miles Davis, SonnyRollins.
WHO HAVEN'T YOU SEEN THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO?
Dylan in his prime, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner. Probably lots of others too, if only I could think of them.
HAVE YOU SEEN A WEST END MUSICAL?
Quite a few. Most recently ?Jerry Springer ? The Opera?, which I found disappointing.
OPINIONS -
MANUFACTURED BANDS HAVE NO RIGHT TO MAKE MUSIC. DISCUSS!
They?ve every right. Whether they have the ability is a different question.
BLUR OR OASIS?
Oasis are those yobbish Man City supporters, right? Must be Blur then.
MADONNA OR J-LO?
J-Lo has the better ...
Advantages: It's a laugh Disadvantages: You will be bored pantless
.
17 - Style of music or radio that you prefer?
Jazz, esp. T Monk and Miles Davis, also SonnyRollins, Roland Kirk, ie the usuals, and not much after 1970. Old Blues like 'Barbecue" Bob Hicks, Lonnie Johnson, Snooks Eaglin, Classical: Vivaldi, Pergolesi, Vaughan Williams, Grainger, Mompou, NOT Mozart. Old Sephardic and other middle-eastern music.
18 - Most beautiful song for you?
Hmmm, 'As she Moved Through the Fair', however my favourite song is 'Solitude" sung by Billie Holliday
19 - The singer, or band that you prefer?
Can't pick just one - there are suggestions above.
20 - The real TV show that you prefer?
Channel 4 News
21 - Advertising that you prefer?
Eh? None, no more, please!
22 - Are you single?
No.
23 - If no, are you happy?
Yes
24 - if yes, are you happy?
n/a
25 - Have you ever known ...
