Sonny on the Bridge

RE: Sonny on the Bridge, posted on January 21, 2022 at 00:33:15
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Thanks! for sharing.

Nice story from Norway, posted on January 21, 2022 at 06:19:49

andy evans
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I had a wonderful 6 years in Norway playing jazz in the late '70s and '80s and there were some real characters there.

One year the Molde Jazz Festival had invited Sonny Rollins so the Oslo jazzers decided to have some fun with him. They invited him on a sightseeing tour since this is a very beautiful coastline, and strongly recommended a "beautiful old bridge" which he must see. They all got out of the car and started walking across the bridge, as the sweet sound of a saxophone playing "The Bridge" came from underneath the bridge. He was very amused!

Andy

The stuff of legends..., posted on January 21, 2022 at 17:12:00
musetap Audiophile Posts: 31875 Location: San Francisco Joined: July 8, 2003 Contributor Since: January 28, 2004	About a legend that's accomplished a LOT of... stuff. For most of my life, Sonny Rollins has always been larger than life, musically and... beyond. He's been a deep well of inspiration. The Bridge is but one example. "Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure

RE: The stuff of legends..., posted on January 21, 2022 at 18:19:45

belyin
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I have only seen Sonny Rollins twice. The first time was at the Chicago Jazz Festival in 2008. It was fine--he was and is still Sonny Rollins after all--but it wasn't transcendent. The second time certainly was, and he didn't even play a note. In was at the amazing Ornette Coleman tribute at Brooklyn's Prospect Park. Before the music started the MC introduced a "special guest" and out walked Sonny Rollins looking like a prophet in a long black cloak-like garment with his glorious shock of white hair and beard. Sonny expressed his love for Ornette and quoted his friend saying Ornette taught him "It's all good." And then Ornette came on stage (no one I had talked to knew if would be there,) and the two embraced. Such a poignant moment--the last figures from the heroic age of jazz embracing for what was clearly the last time. I doubt there was dry eye in the house.

https://twitter.com/rollinsbridge/status/1065653634845806592

RE: The stuff of legends..., posted on January 22, 2022 at 13:38:24

musetap
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Since: January 28, 2004

Saw him some 6-8 times from 1978- 1997.

Was ALWAYS thrilled (and honored) to be there, in his presence.

He wasn't always transcendent (who can be?), but when he was, well - that's all you needed.
You'd realize that at that particular moment that there was NO BETTER THING on Earth
going on. How could there be?

Over time, the frequent trading of 4s and multiples of would get tedious although every player rose
to the occasion, just seldom at the same time.

Always found it somewhat frustrating that he chose that particular room in the jazz arena to
confine himself to.

The last time I saw Mr. Rollins I practically fell asleep the first set. The second set was as
good as I EVER heard him (and band), live OR recorded.

Met him in 1986/87(?) and he signed a "Way Out West" for me.

He was as colossal (and gracious) a human being as he is a musician.

No doubt in my mind that remains true.

That's nice to hear about him and Ornette.

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure

Jazz Alley

Sonny on the Bridge

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