Quintessence 1953-1957, The - Sonny Rollins

Advantages: Possibly the best tenor saxophonist ever - without a doubt the best still alive!
Disadvantages: None - if you want to see him live, you should try to soon - he's getting on a bit now - 73 yrs old now - still as good as ever though!

...Sonny Rollins is my favourite tenor saxophonist, and is in my opinion the best saxophonist ever. Sonny has a lovely deep, rich tone, right the way from the bottom of his horn to the top. Like many of the great jazz musicians, Sonny was not only a great player, but also a great composer, having written loads of tunes, including St Thomas, Tenor Madness, Doxy, Oleo, Airegin, to name but a few. Sonny Rollins has recorded many famous C.D.'s, but perhaps his best two, and my favourite are saxophone colossus and tenor madness (featuring a stunning recording of tenor madness with coltrane and rollins playing together!) Both of these C.D's feature Sonny Rollins in full swing, at the top of his playing, with his classic tone and characteristic phrasing and solo's. Throughout his life, Sonny Rollins had a chance to play and record... Read review

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Advantages: Sublime music and musicianship
Disadvantages: None

...This is the original score to the 60s film Alfie, composed and played by Sonny Rollins, one of the greatest tenor sax players. I watched this film several times before really appreciating the score, being so intent on the story and film locations, and later checked yes, it was Rollins playing, and he also wrote it. WHO IS SONNY ROLLINS? If you like jazz you don't need me to provide a biog. Sonny [Theodore Walter] Rollins was born in 1930 in New York, arguably one of the best jazz tenor saxophonists of all time. He was already playing with one of the greats, Thelonious Monk before he was 20, and later performed and recorded with John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Art Blakey. In 1955 he joined the Clifford Brown / Max Roach quintet. He was known for his improvisations, sometimes highly imaginative takes on relatively moribund... Read review

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Advantages: Actually very good
Disadvantages: overlooked for more well known martial arts actors

...Sonny Chiba movies seem to often get overlooked for the more glitzy martial arts actors such as Jet Lee and Jackie Chan and Chow Yun Fat. Many of Sonny Chiba's movies are often mature, and totally action packed, with very good storylines. Many of Sonny Chibas films are traditional period types, such as samurai's or ninjas. The fight scenes are often very good indeed, especially the sword fights. More often that not the films are in the native Japanese language with subtitles which is better, becuase that way you are getting the original script, rather than sometihng made up. For me these are the movies that opened the door for movies such as Azumi, Azumi 2, and Versus. These movies are most definitely worth a look.... Read review

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