Sonny Rollins

"But, despite his acknowledged stature, Rollins has always been a puzzling figure, given to chronic self-doubt, sometimes withdrawing from the music scene for years. In this penetrating study, Peter Niklas Wilson looks at the life, personality, style, and recorded legacy of this "doubting giant" of jazz. Aspects of Rollins' approach to improvising and composing are expertly analyzed. A narrative discography gives helpful information on all of Rollins' recordings from 1949 through 2000.