Robin James recaps the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, pays tribute to the late Sonny Rollins at 95 and marks the 100th anniversary of Miles Davis and John Coltrane during Black Music Month.
MSR jazz contributing writer Robin James recaps the Twin Cities Jazz Festival at Mears Park in downtown St. Paul, pays tribute to the late great saxophonist Sonny Rollins who passed away May 25 at age 95, and marks the 100th anniversary of both Miles Davis and John Coltrane during Black Music Month.
There was nothing quite like relaxing in a fold-out chair with a cool drink in hand and a cool breeze swirling around as the sounds of jazz filled the air on a warm summer day.
Those who attended got their chance to experience just that on Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival in Mears Park in Lowertown, downtown St. Paul.
The free event was previewed in a previous column, but it was worth the reminder. For a full list of 2026 performing artists and other details, visit twincitiesjazzfestival.com. It is always a good time, and attendees were encouraged to bring friends and family.
One highlight was the appearance of the Sullivan Fortner Trio, which performed Saturday, June 21, at 6 p.m. at Mears Park. The talented New Orleans pianist, composer and bandleader amazed the hometown crowd as he has the entire jazz world.
As the festival approached, the jazz world was mourning the loss of the great saxophonist Sonny Rollins. He passed away May 25 at his home in New York. Rollins was 95.
He was widely regarded as the greatest living improviser. No other jazz musician could match his originality and the successful span of his remarkable six-decade career. For that reason, Rollins’ passing was a tremendous loss for the jazz world.
He represented all that is great about jazz. Its spirituality, resilience and humanity. Rollins came from the Golden Era of jazz, when all the greats were busy becoming the greats they would later be known as. He will be remembered for his playing with John Coltrane on the album “Tenor Madness” and for his work on “The Bridge.” And there is much to admire in the fact that he considered himself a lifelong student.
Most of all, Rollins will be forever remembered for the songs “Sonnymoon for Two” and “St. Thomas.” The latter was chosen to play for a niece named Maya as her first jazz song when she was nearly 1 year old. As it turns out, Rollins’ parents were both from St. Thomas, among the U.S. Virgin Islands, a gorgeous island worth visiting.
There was also the memory of briefly speaking with Rollins during a call-in to promote his show on “Sweet on Jazz” on KBEM Jazz 88.5 FM. He was in town for a gig at Northrop Auditorium.
Rollins was a once-in-a-lifetime artist, and his music will live on forever. It is sad that so many greats seem to be leaving us. But it means we must be even more thankful for those still with us and nurture the future greats within our midst. For that, we must continue to celebrate with hope.
Thankfully, the late greats have left us supreme music to hold onto. New Orleans songwriter and pianist Allen Toussaint’s deluxe edition of “Songbook” is out now. It features the pianist on tracks including “Get Out of My Life,” “Holy Cow” and more, plus unreleased performances. Available for the first time on 2-LP vinyl, deluxe CD and digital editions at i.craftrecordings.com/Toussaint-song. Toussaint passed away in Madrid, Spain, on Nov. 10, 2015.
This year marks 100 years of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. More late greats who left a wealth of beautiful music to enjoy. They earned their greatness by never giving up on their development as artists and continued to reach and grow as world-class musicians. Through their example, we have learned what it means to persevere and overcome obstacles to become legendary.
To celebrate both Davis and Coltrane and Black Music Month, listen to Davis play “Blue in Green” or Coltrane play “Naima” and be transformed. May their legacies live on forever.
Robin James welcomes reader responses at jamesonjazz@spokesman-recorder.com.