This Is What I Do (Sonny Rollins album)

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This Is What I Do
This Is What I Do.jpg
Studio album by
Sonny Rollins
Released2000
RecordedMay 8–9 & July 29, 2000
StudioClinton Recording Studio, New York City
Genre Jazz, hard bop, straight-ahead jazz
Length48:19
Label Milestone
Producer Sonny Rollins, Lucille Rollins
Sonny Rollins chronology
Global Warming
(1998)		This Is What I Do
(2000)		 Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert
(2002)

This Is What I Do is a studio album by jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, released in 2000 on Milestone Records. [1]

Contents

Background

This album features Rollins performing with the likes of Clifton Anderson, Stephen Scott, Bob Cranshaw, Jack DeJohnette and Perry Wilson. [1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [3]
Dallas Morning News (B+) [4]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Thor Christensen of the Dallas Morning News, in a B+ review commented, "But while What I Do blazes no new trails, it's still a challenging work full of the mind-bending solos and striking melodies that have always marked Mr. Rollins' best work." [4] Alex Henderson of Allmusic, in a 4/5 star review declared, "This Is What I Do falls short of essential, but it offers some nice surprises and is a rewarding addition to Rollins' huge catalog." [2] Clive Davis of The Times, in a 4/5 star review proclaimed, "After a string of so-so releases, the good news is that his latest contains some of his earthiest playing in years. We all know that he can hurtle through the chord changes faster than a speeding bullet, but it is good to be reminded of just how soulful a musician he can be. There are times when he sounds as raw and bluesy as the recently departed Stanley Turrentine. [5]

Gary Giddins would later state in 2002, "I think Sonny’s work of the last 20-25 years contains many of his greatest performances. As a recording artist, there was greater consistency in the '50s and in the '60s than later. But as a player, he has kept growing — his sound is so much more powerful and interesting now. And he’s made many great records...the new album, This Is What I Do, is tremendous." [6] The Penguin Guide to Jazz in 4/4 star review remarked, "This Is What I Do is unmistakable, and great Sonny Rollins." [3]

Accolades

The album also won a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. [7]

Track listing

All compositions by Sonny Rollins except where noted.

  1. "Salvador" – 7:55
  2. "Sweet Leilani" (Harry Owens) – 7:01
  3. "Did You See Harold Vick?" – 9:19
  4. "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" (Eric Maschwitz, Manning Sherwin) – 8:06
  5. "Charles M." – 10:19
  6. "Moon of Manakoora" (Frank Loesser, Alfred Newman) – 5:44

Personnel

Musicians

Production

References

  1. 1 2 Sonny Rollins (2000). This Is What I Do (album). Milestone Records.
  2. 1 2 Henderson, Alex. "Sonny Rollins - This Is What I Do". AllMusic . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. pp. 1235–1236. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
  4. 1 2 Christensen, Thor (December 17, 2000). "CDs in Brief". Dallas Morning News . Retrieved May 30, 2025– via newsbank.com.
  5. 1 2 Davis, Clive; Hargie, Marie (December 9, 2000). "New albums and concerts - Music". The Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025– via newsbank.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Giddins, Gary; Maita, Joe (October 21, 2002). "Conversations with Gary Giddins: on Sonny Rollins". Jerry Jazz Musician. Retrieved September 7, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ "Sonny Rollins". The Recording Academy . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
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