Sonny Rollins, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist Who Redefined the Genre, Dies at 95
By
@newyorker.com
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Summary
Sonny Rollins, the legendary jazz tenor saxophonist who revolutionized the genre and became synonymous with the art of jazz itself, has died at age ninety-five. From his first recordings in 1949 at age eighteen through his late live albums in the 2010s, Rollins was known for his powerful, hewn sound on the tenor saxophone—a big, heavy instrument that matched his tall, muscular physique. His musical range spanned from whirlwind energy to intimate warmth, and he never stopped pushing the genre forward throughout his seven-decade career.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledPhotos of great musicians often reveal the spiritual dimension of their quest, but one didn't need to see a picture of Sonny Rollins to know that he was tall and muscular.
His sound—from the time of his first recordings, in 1949, at the age of eighteen, until his late, live albums, from the twenty-tens—seems hewn, with rugged textures to match.
His full range of expression spanned whirlwind energy and intimate warmth, and this power felt...
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