Don’t Stop The Carnival – 1978

Sonny Rollins

A continually exciting solo on a calypso

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Tenor-saxophonist Sonny Rollins always had the ability to make the most out of the least to an exciting level.

A good example of that can be heard and seen on “Don’t Stop The Carnival,” a calypso that just has an eight-bar melody.

From the 1978 documentary Saxophone Colossus, Rollins tears into “Don’t Stop The Carnival” while not wandering far from the melody yet coming up with an endless series of fresh variations.

He is joined by keyboardist Mark Soskin, electric bassist Bob Cranshaw, drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith, and trombonist Clifton Anderson.

While the closing credits roll by, the excitement of the music never lessens as Rollins brings the piece to a climax.

-Scott Yanow

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