Sonny Rollins

Good morning.

Today we’re listening to Sonny Rollins, an American tenor saxophonist from New York City. Initially influenced by artists like Fats Waller, Rollins came out with a bang in the ‘50s, recording with Miles Davis and Charlie Parker.

¹

He released 21 LPs in the ‘50s then took a hiatus. From 1959 to 1961, while living on the Lower East Side, he walked every day to the Williamsburg Bridge to practice, so as not to disturb his pregnant neighbor.

²

His 1962 record, The Bridge, was his return to the studio, and it alternates between wistful ballads and fast-paced bravado. We’re also playing his 1958 record, Freedom Suite, which opens with its iconic 19-minute titular track.

The Bridge - Sonny Rollins (40m, no vocals)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music / Amazon Music / Tidal

Freedom Suite - Sonny Rollins (50m, no vocals)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music / Amazon Music / Tidal

Have a really nice Thursday.

1. via The Talks

2. in fact there’s a campaign to rename the bridge for Rollins (New Yorker)