Sonny Rollins

This set captures stellar concert performances from 1980 to 2007, a time when Sonny Rollins went from being a one of the remaining giants of the Bop Generation to its Last Man Standing. "Best Wishes" blisters, "Easy Living" sears and "Tenor Madness" proves that Sonny still has much of the fire he displayed when he went head-to-head with Coltrane. The final cut from 2007 is the best -- it has Rollins in a trio setting with drummer Roy Haynes and bassist Christian McBride. Sonny needs to record with other jazz stars more frequently.

At 78, tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins is still one of the greatest road shows in jazz, soloing
with a full lion's roar and explorer's heart. The seven live tracks in this collection, issued
on Rollins' own label, are extended blasts of him in autumnal prime in the Eighties and more
recently, including a 2007 surge through "Some Enchanted Evening" with bassist Christian
McBride and drummer Roy Haynes that is power-trio elegance.