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Sonny Rollins

Sonny Rollins: 'You Can't Think And Play At The Same Time'

"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

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John Abbott/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Sonny Rollins: 'You Can't Think And Play At The Same Time'

"Jazz improvisation is supposed to be the highest form of communication," says the 83-year-old sax legend, who is about to release the third volume in his prized Road Shows series.

Sonny Rollins: 'You Can't Think And Play At The Same Time'

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Opinion

NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums Of 2011

50 Favorites Of 2011: S-W

Musicians new and familiar gave us exciting sounds in 2011. We witnessed the ascent of the mighty Merrill Garbus, a.k.a. tUnE-yArDs. We reveled at the return of Ishmael Butler, formerly known as Butterfly from jazz-rap greats Digable Planets, whose debut with Shabazz Palaces gave off a dark buzz. Wilco moved even farther away from its alt-country roots and managed to sound even more like Wilco. The list of our 50 favorite records of 2011 wraps up here, with album Shabazz Palaces, Sonny Rollins and more artists from S to W.

First Listen: Sonny Rollins, 'Road Shows, Vol. 2'

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

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John Abbott

First Listen

First Listen: Sonny Rollins, 'Road Shows, Vol. 2'

What's the 80-year-old saxophone colossus up to now? You'd surely find out at one of his live shows. In a special concert captured here, Rollins joins forces with other living legends, including his first-ever performance with Ornette Coleman.

Jazz Artists On Five Classic Pop-Rock Sides

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

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Photo Illustration: Lars Gotrich/Photos: Rick Diamond/Getty Images, Miguel Palacios/Cover.

A Blog Supreme

Jazz Artists On Five Classic Pop-Rock Sides

WFIU

Did you know that Sonny Rollins played on a Rolling Stones song? Hear that and other jazz cameos from famous pop-rock tracks.

A Holiday Gift Guide For The Jazz Lover

Sonny Rollins on the cover of John Abbott's Saxophone Colossus: A Portrait of Sonny Rollins. John Abbott hide caption

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John Abbott

Review

Music Reviews

A Holiday Gift Guide For The Jazz Lover

Fresh Air

Fresh Air jazz critic Kevin Whitehead picks CDs, books and a DVD for the jazz lover on your list this holiday season. His selections include a book of Sonny Rollins photographs and music from the first season of the HBO series Treme.

A Holiday Gift Guide For The Jazz Lover

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Jim Hall: Guitar As Miniature Orchestra

Jim Hall performs at the 2013 Newport Jazz Festival. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

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Adam Kissick for NPR

Take Five: A Jazz Sampler

Jim Hall: Guitar As Miniature Orchestra

Hall is in a league of players who've turned the tables for jazz and their respective instruments. As far as modernizing the sound and vocabulary of jazz guitar to the degree he did, longtime admirer and fellow guitarist Rez Abbasi says Hall is unmatched. Abbasi picks five songs, each of which reveals Hall's idiosyncratic technique.

World Cafe

Sonny Rollins: Elder Statesman of Jazz

XPN

Ranking with John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins as one of the all-time great tenor sax players, jazz legend Sonny Rollins has been recording fiery, passionate and intelligent music for nearly 60 years. Hear Rollins give an interview and in-studio performance.

Sonny Rollins in Studio on World Cafe - 07/26/2007

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Music Interviews

Saxophonist Sonny Rollins Still Swinging Strong

Saxophonist Sonny Rollins has outlasted many of the jazz greats he played with. At age 76, he's now jazz's elder statesman, crossing another milestone in his 65-year career with a new CD, Sonny, Please, a new record label and a Web site.

Saxophonist Sonny Rollins Still Swinging Strong

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Review

Basic Jazz Record Library

Sonny Rollins: 'Freedom Suite'

In 1958, Brown v. Board of Education was four years old, and the Civil Rights Movement was heating up. As a tribute to the cause of African-American freedom, jazz legend Sonny Rollins recorded Freedom Suite. This classic contains one of the first extended compositions for the tenor saxophone (it's more than 20 minutes long).

Sonny Rollins: 'Freedom Suite'

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Review

Basic Jazz Record Library

Sonny Rollins: 'Saxophone Colossus'

A jazz prodigy before he turned 20, Sonny Rollins ranks with John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins as one of the great tenor saxophonists. In what is often termed his breakthrough album, 1956's Saxophone Colossus contains diverse musical elements, including a calypso, ballad, and Kurt Weill classic.

Sonny Rollins: 'Saxophone Colossus'

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