Originally released in 1986, this dvd/blu-ray includes not only the classic documentary/performance/interview of the greatest living sax player Sonny Rollins, but with extra special features the is now extra commentary by director Robert Mugge and extra audio of “G-Man” and ”Don’t Stop the Carnival.”
Rollins is captured performing with his big and beefy tenor sax around his home state of New York, interspersed with interviews with his wife Lucille in Central Park. In Japan, Rollins performs a commissioned piece of music, with interesting commentary from Ira Gitler, Gary Giddens and Francis Davis. Even better is the inclusion of vintage material of Rollins from various stages of his evolutionary career. Arguably the last jazz giant, Rollins is given the respect due, with this disc as a humbling reminder of a time when a jazz artist could make important social, religious and political comments. The last of a breed.