Saxophone 'colossus' Sonny Rollins dies at 95

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Saxophone 'colossus' Sonny Rollins dies at 95 Americas

Issued on: 26/05/2026 - 11:56

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Sonny Rollins, the "Saxophone Colossus" and the last in a golden era of jazz greats, died on May 25. Aged 95, he was one of a handful of saxophone players who defined the instrument, a pantheon that includes Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins and John Coltrane. Rollins' often marathon, hard-blowing solos earned him a reputation as the greatest jazz saxophone improviser. FRANCE 24's Samy-Vicente Lacerda looks back on Rollins' life.

Keywords for this article

• jazz
• Music
• US culture

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