"St. Thomas" - Sonny Rollins

Artists in this video:

• Tenor Sax - Sonny Rollins
• Piano - Kenny Drew
• Bass - Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (Danish bassist)
• Drums - Albert "Tootie" Heath

Factoids:

• First released on Sonny Rollins' 1965 album "Saxophone Colossus" 
• The melody is based on a traditional nursery song sung to Rollins as a child in the Virgin Islands, hence the Caribbean feel.
• "St. Thomas" was featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.  When you steal your next cop car or taxi in the game, tune into JNR 108.5 Radio Station and listen to some Sonny Rollins!

Listen for:

• The clip clearly highlights how jazz artists use the head (main melody/tune) as a foundation during improvisation 
• Notice how the bassist (Pedersen) starts his improv using the main tune as the opening statement.  When improvising, take the head and expand on it melodically and/or rhythmically.
• Albert Heath does a GREAT job using the main melody at the beginning of his solo.  The cymbal and snare hits nicely outline the syncopation in the melody.  He continues to play around rhythmically with the head throughout his solo.  Try humming or singing along as he plays.
• When the head comes back towards the end, Sonny Rollins really plays around with the basic framework.  He changes the rhythm and also plays other notes within the chord progression.