Theodore Walter ‘‘Sonny’’ Rollins ‘‘the Colossus of Saxophone’’ as they call him, was born in New York on 7th September 1930 and grew in Harlem, an ideal region for somebody who wanted  to become a musician. When he was eight  he almost knew what he would make in his life. He began to learn piano, alto saxophone and finally he practiced tenor saxophone, while around him the musical revolution of his times, bebop, was played, which with the freedom and its experimentation led jazz to other paths.

His first idol was Louis Jordan, but very soon he was captured by the sound of Coleman Hawkins, while he began to watch Charlie Parker, the famous Bird. When he was 19  he made a record with the interpreter and poet of the Beat generation Babs Gonzales, while a little later with musicians such as the trombonist J.J.Johnson and the pianist Bud Powell. In the early 50s - and after he was discharged from Rikers Island for robbery and his treatment from heroin - he collaborated with Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Clifford Brown, Max Roach.

In the following years Sonny Rollins  made his own groups, developed his personal style, experimented as much as he could,  gave new dimensions in the improvisation using the technique of thematic variants. Despite his big success he withdrew from the lights of publicity and recordings several times in order to concentrate on himself and the music and to practice and  improvise undistracted.

His musical course  consists of historical recordings and innumerable rewards. A legend who dedicated  himself in what  he believed, from the giants that survive, Sonny Rollins, while as it is known  most of the charismatic musicians of jazz who opened the way in the big changes have passed away, researches even today, plays with passion, feels each moment.

‘‘He is great, he has huge sound, unbelievable technical facility. To me what embodies the jazz spirit and makes him the consummate jazz musician is the lightening quick intellectual reflexes. He is one from the most spontaneous players on the face of the planet…. Sonny Rollins will come out and play. And you can tell a lot of things he played are just things that pop in his head.’’ Words of Branford Marsalis from an interview he gave in November 1996.

On 28th November 2010 Sonny Rollins will be in Greece for a unique concert in the theatre Pallas.

Renata Dikeopoulou 5 November 2010