Sonny Rollins...Poignant Sounds of Jazz

Jazz tenor saxophone people fascinate me. I think one of the most unique tenor voices is the clever older fella' Sonny Rollins. I listened today to this sly, big-toned sax guy blowing the intricate tune 'St. Thomas' and it was a huge thrill, a collage of sounds that mesmerize us all. This jazzy tune 'St. Thomas' is one of my top favorites. The piano styling of Kenny Drew was superb on this blowing session. Also I heard the sleek jazz tune 'Oleo' interpreted by our vigorous Mr. Sonny Rollins. That development of the composition 'Oleo' with its tricky bridges was so very fine. Jazz tenor sax music makes the mind feel so pleased.

Snow Melting.......It's Big JAZZ times!

A Beautiful Day! The snow is melting! Wowee! Happy, Jazzy Times! I celebrated by listening to super-wild Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis music. Also enjoyed jumpin' good sounds from the fabulous Oscar Peterson on the keyboard!

Sonny Rollins, a superior saxophonist!

Sonny Rollins is a tenor saxophone giant. The big sound with the vivid soaring solos just overwhelms the listener. Needed a gigantic pick-me-up today so I listened to two fantastic Sonny Rollins numbers....'The Bridge' and 'St. Thomas.' The exuberant, passionate playing of Rollins packed a quite inventive jazz musical punch. One of my favorite thrills about Sonny Rollins is the fact he surrounds himself with clever sidemen. Superb in this regard is the bass man Bob Cranshaw. The high-impact style of Bob Cranshaw is somewhat akin to the remarkable bass work of the famed Paul Chambers. Superior bass men can help jazz leaders out so much and of course Bob Cranshaw and Paul Chambers represent good evidence of this. Enjoy the tremendous big tenor sounds of Sonny Rollins today. Have a so remarkable Saturday!

Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Mr. Roth

So many memories do I have when it comes to the sometimes confusing instrument that is the saxophone. When I was a real young guy I started trying to learn how to play that pesky nemesis that is the saxophone, but like a truly brash kid I opted for the tenor saxophone also telling myself I liked the tenor's big sound. I worked and worked but I had a dickens of a time trying to learn all the fingerings and most of all I had a teacher who believed in pounding into folks the importance of tone. I worked and huffed and prayed and moaned and then tried harder and harder. Finally I started to get the hang of it and started playing in a group with some friends on guitar and a mighty fine drummer guy who was one year older than me. Man, he could really kick it on those skins. Well, what I am leading up to is the fact I have a passionate respect for the really boss great tenor s. men like Sonny Rollins and the man of such fantastic jazz soul the one and only John Coltrane. When an individual listens to the super guys, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane it is a magnificent total joy. Today yours truly listened to a vivid sparkling Sonny Rollins rendition of the superior jazz tune, 'St. Thomas.' I just totally love the composition, 'St. Thomas' cause it has such a magnificent kickin' good feeling to it. On this Rollins workout there was also the fascinating keyboard work of the man of deep poignancy, Tommy Flanagan and there was also the tasteful but certainly appropriately feisty work of the sensational Max Roach on drums. What a fine super Friday this is everyone. When I get back to the great gigantic jazz sounds of the tenor saxophone then I feel the same way as when I read a multi-layered work by the brilliant Mr. Philip Roth. Magnificent that is Philip Roth. Saxophones and Roth...what a wonderful world this is as Louis A. used to say.

Jim Hall, Sonny Rollins: Strong Jazz Guys

It makes me happy to hear a great jazz guitarist, a person who understands the creative flow that is truly needed in fine jazz artistry. Such a grand guitar man is Jim Hall. And when you pair the eloquent tenor saxophone guy Sonny Rollins with Jim Hall, well then it is a feisty, delightful musical experience. Sonny Rollins has such a huge persuasive tenor sound that is so compelling and when you pair the shiny and so flowing linear, improvisatory lines of Jim Hall with Sonny Rollins then this is a large superior recipe for stream of consciousness jazz success. This Hall and Rollins totality of sound can inspire, indeed nudge us on to new literary heights kind of make new Roths out of us souls who like to write. Listening today to Jim Hall and Sonny Rollins surely made my Sunday afternoon sparkle.