March 30, 1988 – Sonny Rollins performs with Clifton Anderson (tb), Jerome Harris (g), Mark Soskin

(p),
Bob Cranshaw (b) and Al Foster (d) at Nerima Bunka Center in Tokyo, Japan

Instruments
Rollins has played, at various times, a Selmer Mark VI[90] tenor saxophone and a Buescher
Aristocrat.[91] During the 1970s he recorded on soprano saxophone for the album Easy Living.
His preferred mouthpieces are made by Otto Link and Berg Larsen.[92] He uses Frederick Hemke
medium reeds.[90]

Influences
As a saxophonist he had initially been attracted to the jump and R&B sounds of performers like
Louis Jordan, but soon became drawn into the mainstream tenor saxophone tradition. The
German critic Joachim-Ernst Berendt described this tradition as sitting between the two poles of
the strong sonority of Coleman Hawkins and the light flexible phrasing of Lester Young, which
did so much to inspire the fleet improvisation of bebop in the 1950s.[87] Other tenor saxophone
influences include Ben Webster and Don Byas. By his mid-teens, Rollins became heavily
influenced by alto saxophonist Charlie Parker.[88] During his high school years, he was mentored
by the pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, often rehearsing at Monk's apartment.[89]

Early life
Rollins was born in New York City to parents from the United States Virgin Islands.[5] The
youngest of three siblings, he grew up in central Harlem and on Sugar Hill,[6] receiving his first
alto saxophone at the age of seven or eight.[7] He attended Edward W. Stitt Junior High School
and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in East Harlem.[8] Rollins started as a
pianist, changed to alto saxophone, and finally switched to tenor in 1946. During his high school
years, he played in a band with other future jazz legends Jackie McLean, Kenny Drew, and Art
Taylor.

His technique is so smooth and fluid here. I heard him during “Road Show” albums period where he’s
become more raw and gravelly. I think arthritis must have contributed. Every note is brilliant. Pure
genius from the Williamsburg Bridge.
At the end of the first tune (O.T.YU.G.) He plays some incredible several seconds of circular breathing, a
thing he very seldom did on his records. simply amazing.

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Rollins è una forza della natura del suono,è la musica medesima che si esprime attraverso il sax
tenore,connaturato in lui,che lo domina e fa parte del suo intimo! Uno dei più grandi sassofonisti
assieme a Coltrane,Getz,Parker,Desmond,Cannonball Adderley!

Sonny Rollins: tenor saxophone Clifton Anderson: trombone Jerome Harris: guitar Mark Soskin: piano
Bob Cranshaw: bass guitar Al Foster: drums During the thirteen years during which I had the wonderful
privilege of playing with the iconic jazz master Sonny Rollins, we would tour Japan every other year on
average. Sonny was a highly revered cultural figure in Japan; unlike the vast majority of jazz work, his
Japanese tours had a significant corporate sponsor (usually Yomiuri Shimbun, a major national Japanese
newspaper). Drummer Al Foster was also a notable star in Japan's jazz culture, lauded for his work with
Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and other greats (Foster was a major endorser of Yamaha drums). These
tours were always well-staffed, with sane travel and performance schedules and great accommodations;
all of that let us really focus on the music. Having repeated opportunities to explore Japanese culture a
bit over a period of years--years that included its 1980s economic boom--was an eye-opener and a joy
for me; I cherish getting to experience the depth of love, devotion and commitment of Japan's jazz fans,
and the graciousness, hospitality, respect for tradition, work ethic and interest in innovation in the
country generally.

Sonny Rollins - Live in Tokyo, Japan, March 30, 1988

Sonny Rollins: tenor saxophone

Clifton Anderson: trombone
Jerome Harris: guitar
Mark Soskin: piano
Bob Cranshaw: bass guitar
Al Foster: drums