Sonny Rollins to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Foundation of America
Tenor
saxophonist Sonny Rollins will be presented with the Jazz Foundation of
America's Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday, October 22, at the
Apollo Theater during the foundation's 14th Annual "A Great Night in
Harlem" gala concert.
The concert segment honoring Rollins will feature performances by Donald
Fagen (of Steely Dan), Jimmy Heath, Jack DeJohnette, Gary Bartz, Billy
Harper, Randy Brecker, Clifton Anderson, Kenny Garrett, Ravi Coltrane,
Al Foster, James Carter, Wallace Roney, the Cecil Bridgewater Big Band,
and more.
"What a privilege it is to have Sonny Rollins grace the stage," says
Wendy Oxenhorn, Jazz Foundation of America's Executive Director.
"[Musical director] Steve Jordan has gone above and beyond to make this a
fitting tribute worthy of Sonny's genius in return for all the decades
of the music he has given to the world. For us and the Great Legends who
are coming out for Sonny, this is our humble attempt to say ‘thank
you.'"
For 26 years, the Jazz Foundation of America has been keeping jazz and
blues alive by helping musicians who played with everyone from Duke
Ellington and Billie Holiday to Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones. The
organization now assists in more than 5000 cases a year nationwide --
preventing homelessness and eviction by paying rents and mortgages;
providing free medical care and operations; maintaining a Musicians'
Emergency Fund to address a wide range of crises.
"What a necessary, wonderful organization!" says Rollins. "I've been
aware of the Jazz Foundation's work for many years now, including the
assistance they've given to so many of my colleagues. I'm honored to
receive this award from them and to lend them whatever support I can now
and in the future."
Rollins is presently completing work on a new album in his Road Shows
series of live performances for release by his label, Doxy Records. Holding the Stage: Road Shows, vol. 4 will be released on April 8, 2016 under a distribution agreement with Sony Music Masterworks and its jazz imprint OKeh Records.
For further information about the Jazz Foundation and the Great Night in Harlem gala, please visit www.jazzfoundation.org.
from www.jazzcorner.com