November/December 2022 // Volume 52 // Number 9

CONTENTS 24 SONNY ROLLINS The years 1960 and 1961 were a crucial transition period for Sonny Rollins; you could

Features call them his bridge years (as in Williamsburg Bridge). In an excerpt from his definitive new Rollins biography, Aidan Levy digs deep into the saxophonist’s psyche as he prepared to return to jazz.

30 DR. GEORGE BUTLER A gifted producer and A&R man, George Butler coaxed Miles Davis back into the spotlight, played a key role in the ascent of Wynton Marsalis, and spurred on the young lions of the 1980s and ’90s. Then he disappeared from the business. What happened? John Murph finds out.

36 BILL BRUFORD He’s played jazz, he’s played rock, and he’d be ecstatic if those two genre signifi-

ers were never allowed to be used in polite conversation again. In light of a recent multidisc career retrospective, the ever-engaging Bruford talks to Jim Farber about investigating boundaries.

40 DENARDO COLEMAN We still know Denardo best as Ornette’s son and the guardian of his legacy—and he’s fine with that. But he’s got bigger plans: to expand his father’s harmolodic work and take it global. A.D. Amorosi catches up with the drummer who considers himself a “different kind of point guard.”

46 ANTONIO SÁNCHEZ The head honcho of Bad Hombre is a virtuoso drummer and visionary composer who’s constantly expanding the possibilities of his instrument. He’s also, as Ted Panken discovered recently, a real sweetheart.

53 2022-23 JAZZ EDUCATION GUIDE

2 JAZZTIMES.COM // November/December 2022

IN EVERY ISSUE

3 JT Notes 6 Opening Chorus The Pittsburgh International Jazz

Festival, stadium-style; Jakob Bro and Joe Lovano pay tribute to Paul Motian; Daniela Soledade introduces herself; memories of Frank Sinatra’s Watertown; and farewells to Pharoah Sanders, Donald Smith, Eric Alan Wannenburg, Mike Lang, Butch Thompson, Rolf Kühn, Ramsey Lewis, Fredy Studer, Creed Taylor, Capriel Dedeian, Joey DeFrancesco, Ted Butterman, Frank Katz, Eric Jackson, jaimie branch, Anton Fier, Pucho Brown, Sue Mingus, and Ronnie Cuber

14 The Scene Philadelphia’s Solar Myth

16 Chronology Sonny Greer and Sam Woodyard 18 Before & After Louis Hayes

22 Overdue Ovation Han Bennink

86 Audio Files Brent Butterworth on the best stereo system for jazz

88 Chops What bassists listen for in drummers

90 Gearhead Roland’s 50th anniversary turns conceptual

92 Reviews Charles Lloyd’s trio of trios; Terri Lyne

Carrington’s new standards; Dafnis Prieto and Luciana Souza; archival releases from Ahmad Jamal, Elvin Jones, and Mal Waldron; and more

104 Artist’s Choice Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the New England Conservatory’s Contemporary Musical Arts program

Cover image by Fernando Aceves Table of Contents image of Sonny Rollins by Atsuhiko Kawabata (courtesy of Hanako Kawabata)