Sonny Rollins, Giant of the Jazz Saxophone, Dies at 95
Sonny Rollins died at his home in Woodstock, New York, at age 95. Born Walter Theodore Rollins on September 7, 1930, he recorded as a sideman with Bud Powell, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk before leading landmark recordings and composing the calypso standard "St. Thomas." He paused recording and almost stopped performing from 1966 to 1972 for what he later described as a spiritual quest in Japan and India, then returned to push improvised saxophone into freer, risk-taking territory for more than five decades. Rollins's bold tone, relentless improvisation, and enduring compositions reshaped the tenor saxophone and remain central to how jazz is taught and played today.
We lost one of the great ones today. RIP to the saxophone colossus, Sonny Rollins. #SonnyRollins #Jazz #Musicsky
Scott Gable4Damn!!! We just lost Dick Parry from Pink Floyd on Friday!!!! 😢
eddiegaedel3Yeah. This one hurts. He mentioned during an interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air that he had Monk's piano but I don't know if they ever unraveled its current whereabouts. Maybe she'll re-broadcast at least part of it tomorrow.
Linda UWSⓥ2💔 truly one of the greatest. RIP.
Breaking News: Sonny Rollins, a jazz great with a forceful and imaginative approach to the tenor saxophone, has died at 95.
Grizzled Shopkeep19One of his early albums was called Saxophone Colossus and nothing changed in the 70 years since it was released.
quick-geezer.bsky.social8Man ... Sonny Rollins was one of the true giants of jazz. Like so many great jazz players, but more than most, there was nobody remotely like him. So many great records, and no doubt even more great performances that were heard only by the lucky people who were there. Rest in power, Sonny.
clemster90241.bsky.social6One of the all time greats!
🥾☁️ 🏴 🌏🍃 🇹🇼 Paces in Places 🇺🇦 ☮️ 🏴 🌳💌 🇬🇱3O, damn. Of course you knew he himself couldn’t live forever 🕊️ 🎷 🎶 but let’s hope his music will.
One of the greatest. Peace.
