Sonny Rollins, aka the Saxophone Colossus, turns 78 on Sunday, September 7. His website, sonnyrollins.com, is hosting a multimedia celebration that focuses on his fans, his web visitors, his greatest inspiration, Coleman Hawkins, and his extraordinary new recording, Road Shows, Vol. 1.

Content available for viewing or download includes an animated transcription of The Everywhere Calypso, The Sonny Rollins Podcast: Sonny’s Fans, Sonny’s 1962 Letter to Coleman Hawkins for Download, excerpts from Sonny’s new CD, Road Shows, Volume 1, Gary Giddins’ liner notes for Road Shows, and, Sonny’s Guestbook replies.

As part of the Birthday celebration, visitors can see an animated transcription of Sonny’s solo on The Everywhere Calypso. For musicians, this is an incredible learning tool, for those who can’t read music; a unique look into Sonny’s improvisations.

Celebration Features:

Just before Sonny’s August 6 Central Park concert, Bret Jazz Video Guy Primack interviewed a number of Sonny’s fans. Everyone from Henry Enrico Farrell, who heard Sonny at the Vanguard in 1957, to some young Japanese women who play Sonny’s music in their college band.

Bret took these interviews and put together a Podcast that offers a portrait of Sonny through the eyes of his fans. An interesting cross section of people can be seen in this video, testifying to the truly dynamic nature of Sonny’s music.

In October of 1962, Sonny heard his idol, Coleman Hawkins, live at the Village Gate in New York’s Greenwich Village. Moved by the performance, Sonny decided to express his feelings in words so he wrote a letter to Hawk. A year later, they would record together on the immortal Sonny Meets Hawk, and play together at the Newport Jazz Festival.

Forty-six years later, Sonny remembers writing the letter “at a time when musicians were dealing with stress on a number of fronts, including racism. Coleman Hawkins was an inspiration to all of us, not only his music, but because he always carried himself with great dignity.”

Sonny Rollins 1962 letter to Coleman Hawkins is available for download as part of the Birthday celebration.

Check out Sonny Rollins 78th Birthday Celebration at: http://www.sonnyrollins.com

What To Expect From Rollins In The Near Future:

On October 28th, Doxy/Universal will release a compilation of live Sonny Rollins performances. This is the recording many people have been waiting for. The album includes seven tracks, which start in 1980 and finish up with Some Enchanted Evening, from last year’s 50th Anniversary Carnegie Hall concert. Visitors to the celebration can download an MP3 of excerpts from the recording.

[Source: www.ejazznews.com]

Related Posts

1. Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman To Headline 30th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival
2. Sonny Rollins: Background & History
3. Sonny Rollins To Play The Tarrytown Music Hall: Benefit concert for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
4. Sonny Rollins To Perform At OCPAC
5. Sonny Rollins Closes Out JVC Jazz Festival In Newport