Jazz Awards Honor Rollins

Saxophonist Sonny Rollins took top honors for musician and tenor saxophonist of the year during the 10th annual Jazz Awards held at NYC’s B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill June 19th.

Rollins, 75, re-emerged at the top of the scene this last year with his Grammy-winning album Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert, his first in 20 years.

Best album honors went to Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall, which was released after the 1957 recordings were found at the Library of Congress.

Other winners included late conga player Ray Barretto for percussionist of the year, Bebo Valdes for Latin jazz album of the year, Dafnis Prieto for up-and-coming musician, Paul Motian for top drummer and 81-year-old Roy Haynes for lifetime achievement.