Who will be in Sonny Rollins' new band?

[.:.impossible]

I still like the idea of Tony Allen.

I love the idea. Sonny seems pretty comfortable with his path at this point, but yeah. Or is it "yeah!" ? Or is it "Yeah" ?

I love it regardless.

[JSngry]

I mean, I dug the Cranshaw/Lee/Mtume hookup big-time when it clicked (and it would sometimes click independently of Sonny clicking with them, but that's The Life With Sonny Show, right?). But check out that clip of "The Cutting Edge" and imagine Sonny playing that tune today with Cranshaw & Allen & whoever else. I would love to hear that, especially if it worked.

I don't know that anybody with Sonny's ear would even know about Tony Allen, though. Or maybe Sonny don't want that, and ok if so. Or maybe in that world it's all "Soul Makossa" if/when it's there at all. Wrong if so, but prerogative to be wrong earned.

But hell, Tony Allen lit a fire up under Jimi Tenor's ass, and Jimi Tenor ain't got a teence of the ass to git lit up under as Sonny Rollins does, even/if/etc. I think Tony Allen can still light fires under asses if the asses are there to get lit up under.

Fela weren't no Manu Dibango, if you know what I mean.

[.:.impossible]

Too much to consider, considering it won't happen. Could Bob Cranshaw hook up with that?

[JSngry]

Bob Cranshaw has displayed a lot of flexibility over the years, played a lot of different gigs well. I'm sure that at one point he could have hooked up in a wicked way with that.

Now, it might be too late. Probably is. Sonny's for a long time been about going out with people he feels comfortable with and playing to see if The Muse hits that night (and it still does, it seems), not working in a new concept and getting a "great band with a different concept" together (and he's alrady done that, on several occasions). Probably now more that ever, so no, it'll never happen, especially now. And maybe it didn't need to happen, ever (well, obviously not, because it would have).

But after David Lee left, Sonny never had a touring drummer that I know of who could really bring those grooves with that flayva', if you know what I mean. But David Lee was a New Orleans cat, right? So, if so, then there you go, damn near always.

Sonny himself during that time was highly erratic, but it was quite often independent of his rhtyhm section. There a lot of people who didn't dig that time of his work at all, but I'm not one of them, I can play the first side of The Cutting Edge album and just GO with that.

Then on Side Two, you get "A House Is Not A Home" and then Rufus Harley to no advantage at all (ad I dig Rufus Harley in HIS own world, so maybe Worlds Colliding is better left unattempted...) and that's why I've still not bought that album on CD.

But I have played the living bejeebers out of Side One! And in my mind, I can imagine a Sonny Rollins/Bob Cranshaw/Tony Allen/Whoever Else version of "The Cutting Edge" that would render Life As We Know It no longer necessary.

Maybe that's why it'll never happen. Life Is Defending Itself From Itself!

[Gheorghe]

Once I wondered why Sonny doesn´t use an uprite bass player. I remember in the late 70s many bands abandoned the acoustic bass, Dizzy had an electric bass player, and finally even Max Roach, after having Reggie Workman or Calvin Hill, used an electric bass.

I remember a Down Beat interview with Sonny, where he was asked why he doesn´t use an acoustic bass player, and his answer was "it´s easier to carry around an electric bass".

But he said, he used Stanley Clark on uprite for a Japan Tour.

Well, I don´t thing someone like Sonny might worry about how easy or how hard it is to carry a bass around, so maybe it´s other reasons.

Well, maybe Sonny wants to go safe and will show up with Cranshaw and Foster (anyway, Foster is one of the greatest drummers, one of my favourite drummers).....

[Justin V]

Once I wondered why Sonny doesn´t use an uprite bass player. I remember in the late 70s many bands abandoned the acoustic bass, Dizzy had an electric bass player, and finally even Max Roach, after having Reggie Workman or Calvin Hill, used an electric bass.

I remember a Down Beat interview with Sonny, where he was asked why he doesn´t use an acoustic bass player, and his answer was "it´s easier to carry around an electric bass".

But he said, he used Stanley Clark on uprite for a Japan Tour.

Well, I don´t thing someone like Sonny might worry about how easy or how hard it is to carry a bass around, so maybe it´s other reasons.

Well, maybe Sonny wants to go safe and will show up with Cranshaw and Foster (anyway, Foster is one of the greatest drummers, one of my favourite drummers).....

I've always assumed that his use of electric bass came down to his allegiance to Bob Cranshaw, who happened to switch to electric bass (due to back problems, I read somewhere). When I saw Sonny in Detroit last year, Cranshaw was on upright, while he was on electric the previous two times that I'd seen him.

Regarding who Sonny should play with, I think he could poach Joe Lovano's Us Five group for some gigs or recording and make some great music.

[danasgoodstuff]

Once I wondered why Sonny doesn´t use an uprite bass player. I remember in the late 70s many bands abandoned the acoustic bass, Dizzy had an electric bass player, and finally even Max Roach, after having Reggie Workman or Calvin Hill, used an electric bass.

I remember a Down Beat interview with Sonny, where he was asked why he doesn´t use an acoustic bass player, and his answer was "it´s easier to carry around an electric bass".

But he said, he used Stanley Clark on uprite for a Japan Tour.

Well, I don´t thing someone like Sonny might worry about how easy or how hard it is to carry a bass around, so maybe it´s other reasons.

Well, maybe Sonny wants to go safe and will show up with Cranshaw and Foster (anyway, Foster is one of the greatest drummers, one of my favourite drummers).....

I've always assumed that his use of electric bass came down to his allegiance to Bob Cranshaw, who happened to switch to electric bass (due to back problems, I read somewhere). When I saw Sonny in Detroit last year, Cranshaw was on upright, while he was on electric the previous two times that I'd seen him.

Regarding who Sonny should play with, I think he could poach Joe Lovano's Us Five group for some gigs or recording and make some great music.

Poach the band and fry Joe?

[JSngry]

Could Bob Cranshaw & Tony Allen hook up? Once upon a times that never would have intersected, yeah, I think so.

Check out Cranshaw here, rock-solid on where the one is, and able to hit upbeats like they're allbeats, which is what you want, right?

Contrast with Gene Perla (for whom under many other circumstances I have felt much admiration), who is definable feeling "syncopations". instead of allbeats

Also note the missed absence of Mtume, the neutral presence of Rufus Harley, and how in both cases - David Lee!

[robertoart]

Could Bob Cranshaw & Tony Allen hook up? Once upon a times that never would have intersected, yeah, I think so.

Check out Cranshaw here, rock-solid on where the one is, and able to hit upbeats like they're allbeats, which is what you want, right?

Contrast with Gene Perla (for whom under many other circumstances I have felt much admiration), who is definable feeling "syncopations". instead of allbeats

Also note the missed absence of Mtume, the neutral presence of Rufus Harley, and how in both cases - David Lee!

And Mr Masuo has a deliciously dirty chordal tone going on underneath the horns. That's the kinda tone you just don't hear anymore.

And speaking of 'underneath'....

Q. What's worn underneath the kilt?

A. Nothing. It's all in perfect working order.

[Justin V]

Once I wondered why Sonny doesn´t use an uprite bass player. I remember in the late 70s many bands abandoned the acoustic bass, Dizzy had an electric bass player, and finally even Max Roach, after having Reggie Workman or Calvin Hill, used an electric bass.

I remember a Down Beat interview with Sonny, where he was asked why he doesn´t use an acoustic bass player, and his answer was "it´s easier to carry around an electric bass".

But he said, he used Stanley Clark on uprite for a Japan Tour.

Well, I don´t thing someone like Sonny might worry about how easy or how hard it is to carry a bass around, so maybe it´s other reasons.

Well, maybe Sonny wants to go safe and will show up with Cranshaw and Foster (anyway, Foster is one of the greatest drummers, one of my favourite drummers).....

I've always assumed that his use of electric bass came down to his allegiance to Bob Cranshaw, who happened to switch to electric bass (due to back problems, I read somewhere). When I saw Sonny in Detroit last year, Cranshaw was on upright, while he was on electric the previous two times that I'd seen him.

Regarding who Sonny should play with, I think he could poach Joe Lovano's Us Five group for some gigs or recording and make some great music.

Poach the band and fry Joe?

[marcello]

Cranshaw switch to a upright bass is for musical reasons only. The last couple of time I've heard him he's played a upright. Bob may have had back problems but I believe that he played the fender for such a long time because that what was called for in his studio work, and he stuck with it.

These day, like others, he has the venue provide a acoustic, or sometimes he travels with one of the hybrid jobs. He can do whatever he wants, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm glad that Sonny got rid of the dreaded percussionist. His nephew the trombonist didn't bother me much, as most of the guitarist he's used. I loved Mauso! I have no idea what happened to David Lee ( who also played with Dizzy). It's a mystery.

Edited May 22, 2013 by marcello

[JSngry]

Mtume, was always cool with me Some/most of the others, not so much.

So...David Lee...I hope that whatever became of him was benevolent in nature...very much a fan of his playing. WHOOOSHY cymbals and a great pocket go straight to my heart.

[Sundog]

Would love to see Kenny Barron in the piano chair. Some serious potential there for some great shows! Not holding my breath on this though.

[bluesoul]

Sonny at the Juilliard commencement (with Daniel Day Lewis and some others).

[Hardbopjazz]

Sonny just canceled his June and July shows.

Keywords News : Sonny Rollins - News from other sources.

Sonny Rollins Cancels Summer Concerts Including June 22 Show at the Touhill

SOURCE:

ST. LOUIS JAZZ NOTES BY DEAN MINDERMAN,

Published: 2013-06-08

This just in: Saxophonist Sonny Rollins has cancelled all his shows for June and July, including a scheduled date on Saturday, June 22 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center here in St. Louis.

Here's the complete text of the news release sent out this morning by Jazz St. Louis:

“

SONNY ROLLINS CANCELS JUNE 22 TOUHILL SHOW

ST. LOUIS, MO. Citing ongoing health issues, saxophone legend Sonny Rollins has canceled all June and July 2013 shows, including his June 22 St. Louis appearance at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Jazz St. Louis, presenter for the June 22 date, received the following official statement from Rollins after close of business on Thursday, June 6:

“This past spring, I was dealing with some respiratory issues that necessitated my canceling several concerts. I have been under a doctor's care, and we were hopeful that I would be able to return to performing in time for my scheduled concerts this month and next. However, I am still not in condition to perform, and regretfully I must cancel these shows."

All tickets will be refunded by the Touhill Performing Arts Center box office by calling 314-516-4949 or visiting the box office during regular business hours."

While this is, of course, a huge disappointment for St. Louis jazz fans, here's hoping for a fast and full recovery for Rollins.

Edited June 9, 2013 by Hardbopjazz

[danasgoodstuff]

This is not good news, get well Sonny!

[Hardbopjazz]

Yes, take all the time you need to get better. If you stop touring that's fine with me. The world needs a Sonny Rollins. Hey, that would be a cool name for drink. "I'll have a Sonny Rollins."

[Hardbopjazz]

I asked a friend who found out, Sonny many just take the rest of the year off from touring and concentrate on his next Road Shows CD. That's okay with me.