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Sonny Rollins, legendary jazz saxophonist and one of the greatest improvisers in music history, dies aged 95
Sonny Rollins, widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, has died at the age of 95. Over a seven-decade career, he released more than 60 albums and performed alongside Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
Sonny Rollins, widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, has died at the age of 95. Over a career spanning seven decades, Rollins released more than 60 albums and established himself as perhaps the finest improviser the saxophone has ever known. His death marks the end of an era in jazz music.
Rollins honed his distinctive sound in the late 1950s and early 1960s, performing and recording alongside jazz giants including Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Music critic Will Friedwald, speaking to Sky News, described Rollins as a ceaseless font of energy, invention and new ideas, adding that for many decades he would have sworn Rollins was the greatest living jazz musician.
One of the most celebrated episodes of his career came when, at the height of his fame, Rollins withdrew from performing for two years because he felt he was not good enough. He spent that time practising alone on the Williamsburg Bridge in New York, an act of dedication that became part of jazz mythology. When he returned, his playing had reached even greater heights.
Rollins moved effortlessly through every era of jazz, from bebop and swing through post-modern jazz, fusion, avant-garde, Latin jazz and calypso. Friedwald recounted a famous concert where Branford Marsalis, himself a world-class saxophonist decades younger than Rollins, openly admitted that keeping up with the older musician was simply impossible.
Although Rollins had stopped performing publicly roughly 15 years ago, his influence on musicians across all genres remained immense. He was considered an inspiration far beyond the world of jazz, with his approach to improvisation and his uncompromising artistic standards serving as a benchmark for musicians everywhere. The tributes pouring in reflect the extraordinary impact of a life dedicated entirely to music.