OT: RIP, Sonny Rollins
If you're not a jazz fan, you probably know him as that dude who played tenor sax on three tracks on Tattoo You, including "Waiting on A Friend"; if you are a jazz fan, you know him as one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century and the best soloist this side of Charlie Parker.
RIP - he's definitely a great
But I dont put him up there with Charlie Parker. For some reason I think I define Charlie Parker and John Coltrane as the greatest of greats.
I spent years studying privately and playing a sax. My taste leans a lot more to Paul Desmond & Gerry Mulligan. That's clearly just personal taste.
All that being said, there's no denying Sonny Rollins was an excellent artist and very prolific throughout his long career.
Still, very sad to see his time come to an end.
Fair enough. To each their own and all that
I can take or leave Gerry Mulligan, depending on whom he's playing with, but I really dig Paul Desmond. Neither one is in Sonny's class, IMO.
Personally, I'd put Sonny right up there with Trane and Bird.
For me
Sonny Rollins has always been the guy who made me realize Hard Bop was my jam. First time I heard St Thomas is still seared into my brain. Dive bar in Bucktown, bartender spinning vinyl. Revelatory. RIP.
Yes, St Thomas. Transcendent.
by Mr. Natural 
, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 19:25 (59 days ago) @ bobbywal
The guy in front of the metropolitan museum of art has played that for me a few times.
Love Roach's opening and solo on that, too.
by PMan , The Banks of the Spokane River, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 08:15 (59 days ago) @ bobbywal
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