Sonny Rollins

Sonny Rollins is the most enduring tenor saxophonist of the bebop and hard bop eras, but also one of the greatest jazz saxophonists of all time. His fluid and harmonically innovative ideas and easily accessible sound have influenced generations of players. Nicknamed "Newk," he served early apprenticeships with bop masters from Bud Powell and Miles Davis to Max Roach and Clifford Brown. After 1956's classic 'Saxophone Colossus' was released, he was heralded as jazz's top tenorist. A year later, after 'Way Out West' and 'A Night at the Village Vanguard' (two pioneering pianoless trio dates), he entered a class of his own -- a reputation he never relinquished. Several of his own compositions, including "Oleo" and "Doxy," are jazz standards. Rollins retired twice early on: the first time, from 1959 through 1961 (when he practiced his horn on the Williamsburg Bridge), resulted in 1962's...

Read more

Sonny Rollins Albums

18 records

Albums featuring Sonny Rollins

30 records