Sonny Rollins Sonny Rollins artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music
Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins during the recording of A Night at the Village Vanguard. Francis Wolff/Blue Note Records hide caption
"If you hear the music, you don't have to be there looking at somebody's body," Sonny Rollins says. "His music is here. All the time." John Abbott/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Wadada Leo Smith finished second in the NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll, separated by only 12 points from surprise winner Steve Lehman. Scott Groller/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
"Jazz improvisation is supposed to be the highest form of communication," Sonny Rollins says, "and getting that to the people is our job as musicians." John Abbott/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Sonny Rollins.
Phil Bray hide captionWorld Cafe Looks Back: Jazz Greats
'Bad As Me' by Tom Waits
Rollins (far right) on stage at his 80th-birthday concert in New York City. Also pictured (left to right): Ornette Coleman, Christian McBride, Roy Haynes. John Abbott hide caption
The Saxophone Colossus (that's Sonny Rollins at left) played on The Rolling Stones' "Waiting on a Friend." Photo Illustration: Lars Gotrich/Photos: Rick Diamond/Getty Images, Miguel Palacios/Cover. hide caption
William Claxton's cover photo of Sonny Rollins standing in the desert — sporting a cowboy hat, gun holster and humorously knowing look — has only added to Way Out West's classic status. William Claxton hide caption
Sonny Rollins on the cover of John Abbott's Saxophone Colossus: A Portrait of Sonny Rollins. John Abbott hide caption
Sonny Rollins is still a saxophone monster at 80. Valery Hache/AFP hide caption
Jim Hall performs at the 2013 Newport Jazz Festival. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption
The Village Vanguard, 1976. Tom Marcello hide caption