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Sonny Rollins (1930-2026)

Word came through yesterday that Sonny Rollins had passed away at the age of 95 — a titan of 20th century music, a real American hero, a wonderfully strange person who shared so much with us over the course of a long life. There's so much to dig into when it comes to Sonny, whether it's his 60+ year discography, the fascinating recent biography by Aidan Levy, or his revealing notebooks, which NYRB published in 2024. Decades upon decades in search of some elusive perfection, a combination of notes and rhythm that passes beyond all understanding. A holy sound.

One of my favorite Sonny situations is a late 1960s BBC doc that you can watch on Vimeo. Entitled Who Is Sonny Rollins?, it follows Sonny from the Williamsburg Bridge to a New Jersey forest, the camerawork evocative and intimate, Rollins’ playing always imaginative and inspiring. Best of all is an extended sequence that shows Sonny showing up at a youth jazz band rehearsal in Harlem. He seems as serious playing a wild, almost atonal blues with the kids as he'd be at Lincoln Center. Who was Sonny Rollins? I don't know, but he was amazing.

Today In History

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., the first Black Congressman from Harlem, New York was an unapologetic activist who left his mark on Congress during his 12 terms in the House of Representatives. He was born in New Haven, CT, on this date November 29, 1908.

Viewed by his Harlem constituents as a dedicated crusader for civil rights, Powell earned the loyalty and respect of many African Americans with his confrontational approach to racial discrimination. Never one to shun the spotlight, the outspoken New York minister and politician—regarded as an irritant by many of his congressional colleagues—relished his position as a spokesperson for the advancement of African–American rights.

“Keep the faith, baby; spread it gently and walk together, children,” was a legendary slogan of the charismatic and flamboyant Representative.