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2007-2025

Interview: Sonny Rollins (Part 3)

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Marc Myers
Feb 21, 2008
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Up until the mid-1950s, tenor saxophonists sounded like Lester Young, whose tender, blues-infused solos and laid-back style captured the heart. But by 1956, a younger, generation of horn players began taking the instrument in different directions.

Leading the two breakaway movements were Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane—both of whom built their solos on m…

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