7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best in Jazz and Photography!, October 1, 2010
This review is from: Saxophone Colossus: A Portrait of Sonny Rollins (Hardcover)
"How could you be familiar with Lee Morgan, Horace Silver and Clifford Brown and not know of Sonny Rollins?", I asked my friend Bernie. "The same way you can know Lee Ritenour and Les Paul but not know Zachary Breaux and David Benoit." he replied. Bernie is in many ways like me. We have a long time interest in jazz music but not previously serious students of the genre. Put everything we know about jazz together and we might add up to what some would call "one serious novice jazz aficionado".
My interest in photography preceded jazz, goes much deeper, and has persevered over the decades. I started shooting professionally about five years ago and of course a book combining two of my favorite subjects got my attention quickly.
Saxophone Colossus: A Portrait of Sonny Rollins is a must-buy for anyone with interests in either jazz or photography and certainly if you are like me -- interested in both. Bob Blumenthal provides the text and, along with John Abbott's remarkably captivating images, presents an entertaining, educational, and inspirational statement about one of our country's living jazz legends.
Photographers at all levels of skill will enjoy a close examination of Abbot's work. Not only is he a master of his equipment, he is also talented with the artistic aspects such as composition and lighting. He has made great choices when selecting which images to show in color and which ones for black and white -- with an appropriate balance to suit the stories he tells with his images. It is the mark of a mature, sensitive professional that can get what Abbott gets from his subject and a credit to both him and Rollins for achieving such a strong connection for the length of time involved in these shoots.
Blumenthal draws upon a more than thirty-five-year personal history with Rollins to bring us the straight story. According to Blumenthal, when they first met, Rollins impressed him with "his high standards and refusal to accept success at face value." Not the typical biography, this is a story of a man and his music with lessons applicable to all walks of life. Known for his brilliant and spontaneous improvisations, Rollins remained aware of current popular hits. In addition to his covers, he also wrote jazz classics such as "Oleo", "Airegin", and "Doxy".
Saxophone Colossus: A Portrait of Sonny Rollins was released in early September and will teach the reader valuable lessons about life, jazz, and photography. Be like Bernie and me, pick up a copy and get "jazzed up"!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than I expected!, September 17, 2010
This review is from: Saxophone Colossus: A Portrait of Sonny Rollins (Hardcover)
This book as a must for any fan of Jazz!
The text pays fitting tribute to a true colossus.
The photos, taken over more years than I imagined, capture the essence of Sonny's appeal.
I advise reading it in a comfortable chair with a CD of Sonny's playing all around you!
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0 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Review, December 24, 2010
This review is from: Saxophone Colossus: A Portrait of Sonny Rollins (Hardcover)
Het ontvangen boek is gescheurd in het achterste schutblad.
Teleurstellend voor een kerstgeschenk.
Hoe stuur ik het teru en wanneer ontvang ik een nieuw exemplaar?
Met vriendelijke groeten,
j. oosterman
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