Happy Birthday, Sonny Rollins
Yesterday was Sonny Rollins’ birthday. 92.
The first time I saw Sonny play was in 1972. He was coming off one of his intermittent hiatuses. He was doing a week at the Village Vanguard. The first night, Tuesday, it was pouring rain. Dan and I waited on 7th Avenue. We had no idea what Sonny would sound like on his return. One of us said that we hoped he was playing more straight-ahead, not too outside like Pharoah Sanders or Arche Shepp. The guy in front of us turned around and gave us a look, half smile, half sneer. It was, of course, Pharoah Sanders. He was just one of many famous musicians in the audience that night, all to witness the return of Sonny. It was triumphant, as you would have expected. Albert Dailey on piano, Larry Ridley on bass, Dave Lee on drums. Lots of straight-ahead music. St. Thomas, It’s Easy to Remember, A Nightingale Sale in Berkeley Square, some blues. Maybe Green Dolphin Street? I don’t remember everything, but I remember the energy in the Vanguard, and it was explosive. One standing ovation after another. My recollection is that Dan and I went back every night during that gig, and every night for the next gig that followed just a few weeks later.
Over the years, I had the privilege of seeing Sonny dozens of times. The Vanguard, of course, Carnegie Hall, the Museum of Modern Art, even here in The Berkshires at Tanglewood, which was a rare treat and the last time I saw him perform. My favorite memories were at a club called the Half Note in midtown Manhattan in the early and mid-1970s. Sonny was still playing clubs in those days and in the middle of the week, the late sets, the clubs would be fairly empty. You could sit in the audience at the end of the night with just a few other people.
Sonny never coasted, no matter how few people were in the audience. I remember one time it was just me and Danny and one other table. The people at the other table were raucous and enthralled and totally into it. They stood at their table and never sat down. Sonny moved close to them and you could see the smile on his face as he played. I think it was the best set I ever heard him play.
Those mid-week nights at the Half Note were so intimate, you could talk to Sonny from your seats and, better, you could go up to him and chat at the end of the night. We didn’t do that often, but after a while he got to know us a little and probably expected to see us in the audience, since we were there every night. He was always humble. We would tell him he was the greatest, and he would smile and say, nah, what about Hawk and Pres and Trane.
Happy belated birthday Sonny. You’ve given me so much joy over the years. Now, excuse me, while I go to the other room and put Paul’s Pal on the turntable.
Beautiful.
I dunno if I’ve told this story before, but I had tickets to see Sonny in grad school (this was about 15 years ago) and finals came up, it was a very heavy week and my girlfriend at the time and I were just buried. One day I was like “didn’t we have something we had to do last night?” I couldn’t remember for the life of me what it was and then it dawned on me that we were supposed to go see Sonny Rollins… surely was my only chance.
Clifford, that’s a heartbreaker. Seeing Sonny versus studying. I know where I would have been. Of course, I was never much for studying anyway. BTW, I forgot to tell one of my other Sonny stories, so tune in for my next post, hopefully tomorrow, now that I am back in action (and doing everything I can to avoid working).
Yeah……great memories. This was the 2nd “uptown” incarnation of the Half Note…across from Condon’s & Ryan’s. The “standing, dressed in Sunday best” table were all black…. unusual for a midtown club in the early ’70s. And Sonny seemed pleased they made the effort.
The Canterino Brothers Sonny and Mike owned both Half Notes. A decade after the midtown club closed, I was doing a gig at the NY Hilton on 6th ave. On a break, I went up to a rolling bar for a drink. When I looked at the bartender in the short yellow jacket and bow tie, there was no doubt. It was Mike Canterino. He recognized me too, we exchanged pleasantries and a few memories. But the sadness behind the eyes of the guy whose club put Cannon, Wes, and Al & Zoot on the map couldn’t be missed. I took my rye & ginger and on the next break, went to a different bar.
Thanks for reminding me of Sonnys birthday. I put PrLP 190 on the turntable to celebrate,
Rollins and Monk , RVG and a Pastilyte pressing, wonderfull music and sound….
I thought this was a jazz collector site. Memories are nice, but not really collectible (per se).
Love, love, love Al’s story about Sonny– “One of us said that we hoped he was playing more straight-ahead, not too outside like Pharoah Sanders or Arche Shepp. The guy in front of us turned around and gave us a look, half smile, half sneer. It was, of course, Pharoah Sanders.” Best. Ever. I also appreciate Danny weighing in with his own story of the Half Note owners, a testimony of the lack of economic support, echoed in Al’s tale of empty tables, for live jazz music and artists.
So Paul is a little miffed …Let me set the record straight. Jazz musicians make a living by playing music that people pay for. Records are great, but they don’t pay the rent. Want to support Jazz ? Go to a live event and help musicians pay their bills. Enough said …
christ, paul. are you serious? collecting jazz involves liking it and experiencing it.
Paul might be joking.
Paul must be joking
If he is joking, i like Paul.
Thanks for this great story Al!
only once saw Rollins about 10 years ago, in the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. What i can remember is that i was disappointed Bob Cranshaw was playing a straight electric bass ruining the whole concert. So i am happy with the records. Some how i like music much more played at home, on my speakers, in my zone, no distortion from talking people, bad sound stage engineering. I go to live concerts to enjoy the atmosphere, sharing with friends the experience, and yes, sometimes being overwhelmed by the performance..
so i play at home “SONNY ROLLINS Saxophone Colossus LP PRESTIGE PRLP 7079 US 1958 NJ RVG DG MONO” ( @PAUL!!). or ” MORE from the Vanguard, Blue Note BN-LA475-H2 Re- issue series , 2 LP (@ PAUL!!)
The only time I saw Sonny Rollins was Friday, March 13, 1992. Silva Concert Hall, Eugene Oregon. My memory of his performance is worth far more than any of his albums that I own. What would collecting (anything) be without our memories?
Oh dear, oh dear Paul… slightly missing the point!
I saw Sonny in london for his 80th birthday tour
He was full of energy, great gig.
Just in awe to see such a legend. Respect.
Maarten, as a Dutchman, may I suggest, (for sure you have been?!) you get yourself down to the North Sea Jazz festival in Rotterdam and enjoy some of the fantastic, inventive and progressive jazz on offer. It’s musical vitamins.
Live jazz music is its energy, it’s what makes it live and continue to grow.
Expecting Live music to replicate what’s on record will always leave one frustrated.
I saw Sonny (with Cranshaw on electric bass) and a fairly large ensemble at Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC thirty? years ago. He was a dynamo, the rest of the band was unmemorable.
I saw Sonny first time in Copenhagen, must have been 1966, with Niels Henning
Ørsted Pedersen on bass and Alan Dawson on drum. It was a jazz festival thing in the Tivoli concerthall, Sonny played 45 minutes without a break, most memorable was in fact the bass solo in Sct Thomas, later several times in the Montmatre with Kenny Drew trio, incredible dynamics and swing, then there were less memorable events with strange combos, but always that dynamic
I don’t know who Paul is, but to each his own. I saw Sonny at Yoshi’s some 20 years back. Great set, and during his break, a fellow with his band who had won some sort of Eastern European award for Bass, did a killer rendition of Haitian Fight song.
I saw Sonny on several occasions in both Copenhagen and London from the sixties onwards. Built like heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson, he always managed to mesmerize his audience by having the physical upper hand. My friends and I always had a bet on his new incarnation. Would he look like a Mohawk, Angela Davis or a baldheaded eagle. Irrespective of his looks his playing invariably exuded exuberance and boundless inventiveness. His habit of starting playing already in his dressing room before entering the stage bore witness to his all-out commitment to music making. Sad to learn that he was playing to almost empty houses in New York. In Copenhagen he was lionized and sorely missed if he didn’t visit for awhile.
Saw him some 20 years back at Yoshi’s. Fantastic, as was his bass player who played Haitian Fight Song while the rest of the crew took a break.
I never got the opportunity to see Rollins play in person, so i envy all of you who have seen him play in person, [ i hope Paul is just joking about his comment
I saw Sonny in London at the Barbican – would have loved to see him in a club setting rather than a slightly sterile concert venue
Newk at Keystone Corner in San Francisco 1971. My wife and my third date. Played the “ Everywhere Calypso” amogst others.
This site is also about Jazz Collecting memories 😉
I had a ticket to see Sonny at the Royal Albert Hall a few years ago. It would have been my first time seeing him. He cancelled as he was unwell, and as far as I know he hasn’t played a gig since.
Could kick myself as I had many chances to see him over the years but never did.