Sonny Rollins European Gigs - 1967 - ca. 1970

[JSngry]

As I understand it, as Sonny gradually withdrew from American gigs, and before he withdrew from performing entirely, he still played occasional "low profile" jobs in Europe w/local (as in geographic, NOT as in quality) rhythm sections. One of these, from 1968 in Copenhagen, was captured in part on 2 Moon CDs, and another one, from 1967 in the Netherlands, I've just recently found out about.

Does anybody have a complete listing of these appearances (personnel would be nice, but not essential) at their disposal? Failing that, do we have individuals in the house here who have partial knowledge about this, first-hand or otherwise? Confirmed existence of private recordings would also be nice to have, but again is not essential.

I'm trying to get a better handle on this "winding down" period of Sonny, how long it lasted, how gradual the wind-down was, and what players he might have played with on these gigs.

As always, thanks in advance!

[Michael Fitzgerald]

I have not done serious research into this period, but here are some tidbits from my files for the period of 1967-69:

1967 - Club 43, Manchester, UK = Rollins, Alan Cooper, Ron Parry

1967 - Arnhem, Netherlands = Rollins, Pim Jacobs, Han Bennink (unk. b)

1967 - Both/And, SF = Rollins, Prince Lasha, Herbie Lewis, Beaver Harris

1967 - Penthouse, Seattle

1968 - Japan = Rollins, Larry Ridley, George Brown (unk. pianist, not Hugh Lawson)

1968 - Copenhagen = Rollins, Kenny Drew, NHOP, Albert Heath

1969 - Ronnie Scott's = Rollins, Stan Tracey, Tony Oxley (unk. b)

1969 - Whitney Museum, NYC = Rollins solo

1969 - UC Berkeley, CA = Rollins solo

1969 - Village Vanguard = Rollins, Albert Dailey, Wilbur Ware, Albert Heath (start of week)

1969 - Village Vanguard = Rollins, Albert Dailey, Walter Booker, Sonny Brown (end of week)

1969 - Philadelphia = Rollins, Albert Heath (others unk)

1969 - Town Hall, NYC = Rollins, Bill Lee, Lisle Atkinson, Richard Davis, Ron Carter, Michael Fleming, Buster Williams, Herbert Brown

1969 - Aqua Lounge, Philadelphia = Rollins, Albert Heath (others unk)

1969 - Jazz Workshop, SF

First performance after 1970 I know is Kongsberg, Norway on June 25, 1971.

Mike

[Dan Gould]

I just have a bit of info that contradicts some of Mike Fitzgerald's:

May 3, 1967 - Arnheim, Holland (spelling I have wrong?) Rund Jacobs is listed as bass, no Pim Jacobs mentioned.

[couw]

I just have a bit of info that contradicts some of Mike Fitzgerald's:

May 3, 1967 - Arnheim, Holland (spelling I have wrong?) Rund Jacobs is listed as bass, no Pim Jacobs mentioned.

Arnheim is German spelling. Arnhem is correct. The bassist's name is Ruud, not Rund (which means cattle).

[couw]

BTW, Ruud en Pim are brothers and the Pim Jacobs Trio often had Bennink on drums at that time (AFAIK)

[Michael Fitzgerald]

At this point I'm not sure which one (or both) of the Jacobs were present. Obviously if someone can listen to the tape for piano that would help.

Mike

[relyles]

At this point I'm not sure which one (or both) of the Jacobs were present. Obviously if someone can listen to the tape for piano that would help.

Mike

I don't think there is any piano on the session, but I will try to pull it out and listen to confirm unless Jim lets us know first since he just recently listend to it.

Edited October 3, 2004 by relyles

[JSngry]

No piano.

And thanks for that listing, Mike. I was under the impression that there were fewer American dates (and more European ones) during this period, but perhaps not.

Interesting, indeed.

Edited October 3, 2004 by JSngry

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Well, for this my sources are more commonly American (esp. down beat), so you can't really draw any conclusions.

Mike

[JSngry]

Oh, FWIW, there was a Beaver Harris interview in Cadence not too long ago that contained reminiscences of the 67 SF gig. Veeerrrrry intereting....

I've got a partial copy of the 69 London gig, but didn't know the year. It's somewhat of a shambles, as the rhythm section does not/cannot/will not/whatever follow sonny on his stream-of-consciousness instant-medley thing, and that just throws him WAY off.

But it's interesting, because the Netherlands date shows him (and his accompanists) absolutely THRIVING in that bag, and the Copenhagen date from a year later shows him very much having reverted, for the most part, back to a "neo-classical" approach (ie - start a tune, play it, finish it, repeat as necessary).

Just trying to get a handle on some of the changes the guy went through in his path towards retirement (which by his accounts, was a true retirement - not a sabbatical for practice purposes) and what, if any, part those changes migh have had on him when he decided to resume active performing. London '69 gives a vivid indication, but the amount of 1969 activity (more than the preceding two years combined. And those solo concerts!) before the true layoff of 1970 is intriguing.

Just trying to figure out a piece of something that is really none of my business.