Posts Tagged Sonny Rollins
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August 20, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 380
Sonny Rollins, The Sound of Sonny (1957) One of the earlier Sonny Rollins albums – his first for the Riverside label. Well he’d made several albums by this point, and all rather quickly, over a couple of years, but 1957 is a crucial, pivotal year. And I think of this as one of the earliest […]Archive
June 7, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Gig Review: Christian McBride’s New Jawn (June 6, Wgtn)
Christian McBride’s New Jawn Opera House, Wellington (8pm) Wednesday, June 6 Opening night of this year’s Jazz Festival saw a new thing (or “New Jawn”, in Philly-slang) from legendary bassist, band-leader and session-star across jazz and pop, Christian McBride.Archive
November 22, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Ben Riley
Ben Riley has died. He was 84. So, a good innings – sure. He was one of my favourite drummers. He is one of my favourite drummers. His playing – of course – lives on. So strong, so subtle, so supple, understated – and yet he was always right there, riding hard on the cymbal […]Archive
May 23, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Mickey Roker
It was sad to hear of the passing of the great jazz drummer, Mickey Roker. He was 84, he died of natural causes, he played drums his entire adult life – Roker worked with so many of the greats. He was a force, as a progressive bop drummer, as a legendary sideman. I have records […]Archive
January 29, 2016 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 756
Sonny Rollins, Freedom Suite (1958) I love Sonny Rollins – I think I really got hooked on him around the time of seeing that Ken Burns’ Jazz series; I knew about him beforehand and liked him, but the stories about him when I watched that series really stuck out, so I started buying up the […]Archive
June 24, 2015 by Simon Sweetman
Stubs: #96 – Sonny Rollins, Wellington, 2011
This gig was pretty special – obviously because it was Sonny Rollins, living jazz legend. But also, on a personal note, I had interviewed him; one of my all-time favourite interviews. I’m in two minds about this too – I have no recording of that interview. We spoke for over an hour, I can remember […]Archive
July 24, 2014 by Simon Sweetman
Joshua Redman: Trios Live
Joshua Redman Trios Live Nonesuch There’s never been any argument around Joshua Redman’s abilities – that flawless technique. But what’s very clear is he’s growing into the sound now, filling up the big shoes and stepping up. Maybe it’s his recent visit here, and the clinic – veritable masterclass – that he and his quartet […]Archive
July 1, 2014 by Simon Sweetman
Sonny Rollins: Beyond The Notes
Sonny Rollins: Beyond The Notes Director: Dick Fontaine BBC It was one of the greatest thrills of my life to speak to Sonny Rollins – and then to see him perform. That was a couple of years back now, back around the time this film, Sonny Rollins: Beyond The Notes, was made. It’s based around […]Archive
June 26, 2014 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 1092
Louis Jordan, Choo Choo Ch’Boogie [Single] (1976) I got pretty hooked on Louis Jordan some time ago – a great mix of jazz and swing and rock’n’roll, some novelty songs and some kick ass jook joint R’n’B – sometimes all of that is happening (and more) in each song. I knew Louis Jordan was great […]Archive
August 20, 2012 by Simon Sweetman
The Sonny Rollins Interview
This interview first featured on Blog on the Tracks on Stuff here. Sonny Rollins is one of the few survivors of his era, a living legend in the jazz world. He’s 80 years old – and he still practises every day (“I put down the horn to pick up the phone and talk to you, […]Archive
March 13, 2012 by Simon Sweetman