Live Jazz events & concerts in Greece

Sonny Rollins is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians, one of the last jazz originals. A number of his compositions, including "St. Thomas", "Oleo", "Doxy", and "Airegin", have become jazz standards.
After trying out piano, Rollins picked up the tenor saxophone and never put it down. Born in Harlem to parents who had emigrated from the Virgin Islands, Sonny Rollins was steeped in the sounds of swing and the burgeoning bebop style. By the time he was 19, he had recorded with trombonist J.J. Johnson and pianist Bud Powell. Soon he was one of the most sought after saxophonists in New York, and could be heard playing with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk.

In 1949, he recorded with Miles Davis and through the 1950s, composed and recorded "Oleo" and "Airegin." He also struggled with heroin addiction and served time in jail. After quitting, he went on to greater success.

Sonny Rollins Great Quotes