Two Concerts – 1980 and 1973

Sonny Rollins

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Sonny Rollins (1930-2026) was one of the greatest saxophonists of all-time, a musician who always pushed himself on stage and was capable of playing 20-minute solos that never flagged in momentum or creative ideas.

A pair of fairly rare performance films feature Rollins after he returned from his final hiatus (1969-71)

The first two numbers (“Keep Hold Of Yourself” and “Little Lu”) feature Rollins on Oct. 23, 1980 in Warsaw Poland in a quartet also including pianist Mark Soskin, bassist Jerome Harris, and drummer Al Foster.

The other four selections (“There Is No Greater Love,” his calypso “Don’t Stop The Carnival,” “Alfie’s Theme,” and “St. Thomas”) are from a 1973 concert in Laren, Netherlands with pianist Walter Davis Jr, guitarist Yoshiaki Masuo, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer David Lee.

Rollins is particularly passionate and intense during the two lengthy numbers from the 1980 concert while he revisits four standards (three of which he wrote) during the 1973 performance, often sounding jubilant form.

While Sonny Rollins is very much missed, fortunately he was well filmed throughout his illustrious career so one can experience what it was like to attend a Sonny Rollins concert.

-Scott Yanow

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