Sonny Rollins / Los Angeles, USA – May 8, 2011

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of a rare recording capturing a legendary performance by Sonny Rollins—an event hailed as the highlight of the 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. This performance took place on the final day of the festival (May 8, 2011) at the Fair Grounds Race Course main stage, just one year before Rollins retired from the stage. Leading a quintet praised by local radio station WWNO as an exceptional ensemble—featuring Peter Bernstein (guitar), Bob Cranshaw (bass), Jerome Jennings (drums), and Sammy Figueroa (percussion)—Rollins delivered a breathtaking set. This release captures over 70 minutes of that performance with high-quality sound, enhanced by the label’s meticulous mastering. The festival lineup that day also included The Neville Brothers, Robert Randolph, and Kid Rock; however, Rollins was the major draw of the jazz program, with organizers billing him as a “jazz superstar.” He exceeded all expectations, delivering a commanding performance centered on expansive improvisations. In the final stretch, he unleashed a ferocious, powerful sound—particularly on “Don’t Stop the Carnival” and a rare rendition of “Tenor Madness”—that defied belief for a musician over the age of 80. While he had begun to show signs of physical decline around his 80th-birthday tour in 2010, the scale and spiritual depth of his improvisation had only deepened; consequently, this 2011 New Orleans concert is regarded as one of the definitive performances of his later years. Rollins would retire from performing after his European tour the following year (2012)—a tour that featured a two-horn lineup including a trombone. I urge you to cherish this magnificent performance, which stands as one of his final appearances in the “one-horn” format—the setting that truly showcased his quintessence, allowing him to improvise with boundless freedom and protean creativity. Recorded Live at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, WWOZ Jazz Tent, New Orleans, LA, May 08, 2011 AUDIENCE Recording EX *** 71 min D. CHERRY GLOBAL WARMING THEY SAY IT’S WONDERFUL DON’T STOP THE CARNIVAL TENOR MADNESS Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone Peter Bernstein – guitar Bob Cranshaw – double bass Jerome Jennings – drums Sammy Figueroa – percussion