It’s probably possible to write about Sonny Rollins without referring to him as the saxophone colossus, but I’m not gonna even try it. Sonny Rollins has been playing the sax longer than you’ve been alive — hell, longer than your parents have been alive — and he’s more or less retired the title of “baddest motherfucker alive.” Sonny turns 81 today, he’s still touring the world, and if you don’t listen to him you’re stupid. How’s that?

It’s probably possible to write about Sonny Rollins without referring to him as the saxophone colossus, but I’m not gonna even try it. Sonny Rollins has been playing the sax longer than you’ve been alive — hell, longer than your parents have been alive — and he’s more or less retired the title of “baddest motherfucker alive.” Sonny turns 81 today, he’s still touring the world, and if you don’t listen to him you’re stupid. How’s that?

Tags: jazz sonny rollins saxophone colossus birthday suck it nba