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Sonny Rollins is 90 today! If you follow me, you are probably in agreement that he’s one of the greatest musicians on the planet. You may also know that he’s one of our finest humans. Here’s a modest little story I’m fond of, for reasons that will be obvious 
In 2007 it was announced that Sonny Rollins would play Carnegie Hall in a rare trio w/ Christian McBride on bass and Roy Haynes on drums. For many fans—especially those who, often unfairly, took a dim view of Sonny’s working band—this was an unmissable event. But I had to miss it
How could I miss such a thing? Well, I was getting married a few days before the concert, and I’d be in Argentina for the honeymoon. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think for a moment about how to change our plans. But I’m *just* smart enough that I didn’t seriously suggest it.
At the time, I was one of two jazz critics at the NYT. Due to prior commitments, Ben Ratliff couldn’t attend either. But it obviously had to be covered! Our editor reached out to Fred Kaplan, who we agreed would do a good job with the overnight review.
I told Sonny’s longtime publicist Terri Hinte that I would sadly have to miss the historic concert, and explained why. She was disappointed that neither Ben nor I would be there, but understood. Then I got married! And @fmkaplan went and wrote this review https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/arts/music/20roll.html
(We had a blast in Argentina, but that’s a tale for another time.) Skip ahead two months: I’ve been invited to give a talk at the Barcelona Jazz Festival. When I board the plane in Newark, who do I see in a First Class seat? It’s Sonny, who will be headlining the festival.
I had profiled Sonny in the NYT, but didn’t expect him to know me from Adam. Then, too, I wondered whether he was annoyed not to get a review from one of the main critics. Should I walk past and leave him alone? (Some of the thoughts that fly through your head in the moment...)
So now here I am in the aisle. And there’s Sonny, who looks up. I say hello, tell him I’m looking forward to the Barcelona concert. I’m just about to mention how sorry I was to miss Carnegie Hall, but he beats me to it. “Ah, Nate!” he says...
...”Congratulations on your wedding!”
A small, beautiful gesture.
I thank him and go take my seat. Before turning off my phone, I send a text to my wife: “Sonny Rollins sends his congratulations.”
A small, beautiful gesture.
I thank him and go take my seat. Before turning off my phone, I send a text to my wife: “Sonny Rollins sends his congratulations.”
The Barcelona fest turns out amazingly; Sonny’s concert is just an explosion of life-force. And I have a chance to talk with him a bit, outside the frame of an interview. He is as gracious and thoughtful and selfless as we all expect him to be.
Photo by festival artistic director Joan A. Cararach. (Sonny was a lot warmer and more expressive than he looks here.) Anyway, thus ends my thread. Happy birthday, Sonny! Many thanks for the music, and for the example you set.
