About this episode

This episode pays tribute to the legendary jazz musician Sonny Rollins, reflecting on his impactful career and featuring notable recordings.

One of the greatest players in the jazz legacy, Sonny Rollins passed away last week on May 25 at 95 years of age. On this episode, we look back on his career which spanned 7 decades. Here are some of my favorite "Newk" recordings from his most creative years. PlaylistArtist ~ Name ~ AlbumSonny Rollins ~ Strode Rode ~ Saxophone ColossusSonny Rollins ~ Wonderful! Wonderful! ~ Newk's TimeSonny Rollins ~ Alone Together ~ Sonny Rollins and the Contempory LeadersSonny Rollins ~ God Bless the Child ~ The BridgeSonny Rollins ~ Alfie's Theme ~ Alfie (Original Music From The Score)Sonny Rollins ~ The Freedom Suite ~ Freedom Suite

People in this episode

Host: Ken Laster

Topics covered

• jazz
• Sonny Rollins
• music legacy
• recordings
• career retrospective

Keywords

• Sonny Rollins
• jazz
• music
• recordings
• career
• tribute
• Saxophone Colossus
• The Bridge

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Saxophone Colossus, Newk's Time, Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders, The Bridge, Alfie (Original Music From The Score), Freedom Suite

More episodes of In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

• More Sonny and Miles · June 7, 2026 · 59 min
• Miles Centennial Celebration · May 24, 2026 · 59 min
• Latest from the Greatest · May 17, 2026 · 60 min
• A New York City Groove · May 10, 2026 · 1h 1m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond podcast page.