passings
Sonny Rollins, tenor saxophonist, September 7, 1930 – May 25, 2026
With Henry Grimes (bass), Joe Harris (drums), “Love Letters” (V. Young, E. Heyman), live, Sweden (Stockholm), 1959
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
timeless
Leonard Cohen (1934-2016) with Sonny Rollins (1930-, tenor saxophone), “Who by Fire” (L. Cohen), live (TV show), 1989
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Illinois
two takes
“Manhattan” (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Blossom Dearie (1924-2009, vocals, piano), 1959
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Sonny Rollins Trio (SR, tenor saxophone; Henry Grimes, bass; Charles Wright, drums), 1958
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
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reading table
How did you wriggle
your way
into my dream path
through such deep snow
on the night mountain?—Ryokan (1758-1831), translated from Japanese by Kazuaki Tanahashi
passings
Henry Grimes, bassist, November 3, 1935–April 15, 2020
With Sonny Rollins (tenor saxophone), Don Cherry (trumpet), Billy Higgins (drums), live, Rome, 1962
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With David Murray (tenor saxophone), Hamid Drake (drums, MCOTD Hall of Fame), live, Finland (Kerava), 2004
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With Kidd Jordan (tenor saxophone), live, New York, 2010
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
Unfailing clarity, lyricism—how apt to hear him shortly after Mozart.
Sonny Rollins, live (“On Green Dolphin Street,” “St. Thomas,” “Four”), Denmark, 1968*
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lagniappe
reading table
dripping from the flower vendor’s
display
morning dew—Kobayashi Issa, 1763-1828 (translated from Japanese by David G. Lanoue)
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*With Kenny Drew (piano), Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (bass), Albert “Tootie” Heath (drums).
tenor fest
day three
Sonny Rollins Trio (with Henry Grimes, bass; Joe Harris, drums), “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” (E. K. “Duke” Ellington), live, Sweden, 1959
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lagniappe
reading table
frogs sing, roosters sing
the east
turns light—Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827), translated from Japanese by David G. Lanoue
This is, to these ears, just perfect.
Sonny Rollins Trio (SR, tenor saxophone; Henry Grimes, bass; Pete La Roca, drums), “Weaver of Dreams,” live, Netherlands (Laren), 1959
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lagniappe
random thoughts
What will the world be like without you?
Happy Birthday, Thelonious!
Thelonious Monk, composer, pianist, bandleader
October 10, 1917-February 17, 1982
Monk’s music—its exquisite mix of logic and lyricism—sometimes makes me think of Mozart.
“’Round Midnight” (AKA “’Round About Midnight”) (T. Monk)
Take 1: Bill Evans Trio (BE, piano; Eddie Gomez, bass; Marty Morrell, drums), live, Sweden, 1970
Vodpod videos no longer available.
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Take 2: Don Pullen (piano), rec. 1984 (Don Pullen Plays Monk)
Vodpod videos no longer available.
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Take 3: Milt Jackson (vibes), live, Japan, 1990
Vodpod videos no longer available.
More Monk? Here. And here. And here. And here.
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
If it wasn’t for music, man, life wouldn’t be nothing—it’s all about music.
—Thelonious Monk
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Sonny Rollins talks about Monk:
Vodpod videos no longer available.
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radio
All Monk, all day: WKCR-FM (broadcasting from Columbia University).
Does anyone have more fun than drummers?
Sonny Rollins/Don Cherry Quartet (SR, tenor saxophone; DC, trumpet; Henry Grimes, bass; Billy Higgins, drums), “52nd Street Theme” (T. Monk), live (TV broadcast), Rome, 1962
Vodpod videos no longer available.
More Sonny Rollins? Here. And here. And here. And here. And here.
More Don Cherry? Here. And here.
More Billy Higgins? Here.
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lagniappe
You know the drum was the first instrument besides the human voice.
Here’s another take on the blues.
Ben Webster Quartet (BW, tenor saxophone; Stan Tracey, piano; Rick Laird, bass; Jackie Dougan, drums), “Poutin’,” live
Vodpod videos no longer available.
More? Here. And here. And here.
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lagniappe
Sonny Rollins, Joe Lovano, et al., talk about Ben Webster
Vodpod videos no longer available.
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You are sending out some great stuff at all times. . . . It’s always interesting, and the one you sent out today, Onmutu Mechanicks, was especially cool, since I hadn’t ever crossed their path.
music clip of the day 