Sonny Rollins Remembers Dizzy and Grover

[@nastynate838]

we must protect Sonny at all cost! this has been one hell of a year for the Jazz world

[@alanbellinger]

C Y If you’re referring to death, it’s natural and growing inside him as it is in all of us. I hope not to “miss” mine.

[@williamlevi5051]

Great interview. Another one of my dad's favorites. I grew up listening to a lot of jazz. In particular Bop. My father loved this music. My dad was born in NYC in 1928. He was part of this generation. He absolutley loved Sonny and all the Bee Bop pioneers Sonny, Dizzy, Train, Bird Parker, Miles Davis. So grew up listening to all of it. Truly Jazz greatest generation..

[@jazzhonk21]

I really enjoyed this interview and the terrific photos that accompany it. Thanks for the upload!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@russellkitch4043]

Always comes across as a true gentleman....generous about others.

[@dr.p.andthewomen4851]

Sonny's barely discernible grin after explaining why he didn't play with other sax players at 08:45 is like all his humor in his solos - the quotes, the sub-tone inserts etc etc. Humor all over, but you need to pick up on it. Thank You Bret, there's so much in this video. It made my day.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

You're a perceptive fellow, Patrick. Thanks for mentioning.

[@bh8365]

Thanks for this upload. Sonny, the Colossus. Always enlightening.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Riddlemewalker]

Thanks for sharing this interview. Tons of insight from a master musician.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kiz8409]

God bless Sonny, thanks for sharing this.

[@sunlion8866]

"The whole creation of jazz is sort of leading toward the ultimate. I'm not trying to be self-aggrandizing here, but I think that the jazz soloist is the pinnacle of what jazz is about.'' -- Sonny Rollins

[@ScottlandShaffner0423]

Love this! The PERSON AND The Music...

[@JazzVideoGuy]

oh yes

[@ScottlandShaffner0423]

@@JazzVideoGuy, in a world reolete with fakery and charlatans, Sonny shines as an Eagle of Light! In connection with Sonny, we held a jazz tribute show for another Angel of Light last night, Bud Powell.

[@terrywho22]

This is brilliant. Rollins is a class act. He is so right in that greatness is not just measured in the complexity and impact of what you play, but in your ability to musically communicate with and impact your fellow musicians... and ultimately the audience. This of course assumes the audience is musically inclined enough to understand the message. I hope I'm interpreting his words correctly. Thinking about what he is saying, this is what made Louis Armstrong so incredible. Not only was he years ahead of the musicians he played with early in his career, but he elevated the musical performance of those around him and the experience for all. Miles, Dizzy, Trane and Parker had that same ability, albeit from a different angles. Hawkins, Young, and Sonny as well.

[@thinktwice4565]

Great Moments for Jazz

[@williamjackson6705]

Grover Washington did record a straight Jazz album called All My Tomorrows which is Quite Good.

[@dr.p.andthewomen4851]

Indeed. There's an even better straight ahead album he did, entitled "Then And Now" which has Tommy Flanagan, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Grady Tate and Smitty Smith on it, amongst others.

[@dr.p.andthewomen4851]

And oh, listen to Grover's Solo on the Cannonball Adderley tune "Work Song" on an album by Joey DeFrancesco called "Live At The 5 Spot". Pure beauty on tenor.

[@williamjackson6705]

@@dr.p.andthewomen4851 Don`t have that one. Will be looking for it . Thanks

[@dr.p.andthewomen4851]

@@williamjackson6705 You're welcome. For simplicity, here you are. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGPWeJ2ul7Fmi6M

[@mademepickaname]

There was also a straight-ahead one he did with Kenny Burrell in 1985 called "Togethering." Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette are on it.

[@tomscott1741]

You know Brett, it seems like you really have a way of getting under Sonnys skin! I enjoy it it's pretty funny! I loved hearing him joke about why he did not ever play with other saxophone players hahaha. Did you think Grover outplayed Sonny that night? Grover was great , it's hard for me to imagine him out playing Sonny though. Although I noticed when I have seen Sunny play with other saxophone players he seems to not want to take the battling approach, which I think is a good thing! I think something corrupting happens when two saxophone players are out to cut each other instead of being natural about playing with each other.

[@tomscott1741]

When he pointed at you and said and "he played better than me that night right?" As soon as you said no he switched from his pointer finger which was pointing at you to his middle finger and started pointing at you with that! I think that was some sort of physical Freudian slip maybe hahaha

[@LCohenSax]

I was at Carnegie Hall when Sonny schooled young upstart Branford. Completely blew him off the stage, Branford didn’t know what hit him it was actually embarrassing. Man I’d pay good $ to get a recording of that.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Listen here: www.archive.org/serve/SonnyRollins1989-05-19CarnegieHall/SonnyRollins1989-05-19CarnegieHall.mp3

[@LCohenSax]

@@JazzVideoGuy Holy Cow...

[@dr.p.andthewomen4851]

@@JazzVideoGuy Thank You for the second time, today, Bret. I'm literally on my knees in gratitude.

[@dr.p.andthewomen4851]

Here's what the Times had to say about the event: www.nytimes.com/1989/05/22/arts/reviews-music-sonny-rollins-s-twist-on-calypso-and-pop.html

[@bassmonk2920]

Dave Lieberman told me once that the story is half of the jazz experience

[@JazzVideoGuy]

true dat

[@patrickdowd4868]

Thanks for this great interview. Is the concert of Sonny with Grover available somewhere?

[@JazzVideoGuy]

I wish!

[@janbevelsborg]

Sonny at 8:45: "didn't play with other saxplayer because I was afraid of getting beat up" haha, he should play with me!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Ha

[@rillloudmother]

look at those hitchhiker thumbs, i bet they woulda been good on guitar too.