I always felt like the outcast among a lot of jazz musicians because I didn’t do that. My other passion besides playing jazz is training in boxing. Luckily, I managed to get a few in my jazz social circle to be interested in boxing and the health benefits of it as well. Didn’t hurt that many of their jazz heroes like miles, red garland, Charlie Christian and other jazz musicians who were also into boxing.
You don’t really need drugs to make great jazz but you need real life experiences and to really be in touch with those experiences and drugs can put you through that and get you there but there are other ways as well.
I ❤️ Sonny without qualification but why are we asking jazz musicians about drugs as if they are experts? We don’t need another cautionary tale about drugs from the crowd of people who want alcohol served to them by 21 year old waiters at restaurants.
John Richard Handy (still alive at almost 92), a friend of mine was in the business for over 70 yrs didn’t do drugs. I call him and maybe ask him one sentence…he goes on and on about the scenes back then. A living phenomenon!
A key thing here, he went to be a day labourer to get off the drug. He completely changed his life, there is something there, put addicts in a physical space where they use their brain and body to rewire themselves.
artists are often unusual people, sensitive people, persceptive people... this makes them subject to being maligned, misunderstood, mistreated, etc by friends & family which causes TRAUMA which leads to substance abuse. so it's not that JAZZ goes with drug abuse, it's that TRAUMA leads to drug abuse, and artists are more likely to have sustained trauma i their lives.
To be any type of artist is a difficult life in the modern world. But please don‘t forget that before modern times, way before, the Shaman took substances to bring them closer to their god. Many, many artists feel and have experienced this effect for themselves. And, let us not forget all the catholic priests that become alcoholics. 😉 (I know, I know. Cheep shot.)
I don't need to be a jazz artist to know that anyone who uses/abuses coke, heroin, etc., won't have much of a life worth living, no matter how good the music sounds.....I don't think we need to go down the list of jazz tragedies, all behind addictions.....especially heroin, cocaine, alcohol
Take it from me. The drugs don't enhance your creativity they make life temporarily satisfying while but ultimately sacrificing everything. Sure I'm talking bout the hard stuff. It's escapism...induced medication and transcendental states. All these feelings and emotions are available in waking life without the accelerant. I pray the young curious artists out there don't succumb to the depravity of addiction. Explore life on its terms and your a better man for it. Bird was saddened by the influence he had on jazz n smack. God bless the countless youth in our country dependant on Opiates. May they find peace.
Psychologically drugs turn off your insight and self awareness, next minute you are in the "gutter" acting like an aresehole in an ego tunnel without windows
Jazz musician are nothing special, Jazz musicians, rock musicians, artists it's all the same, Sonny. Why don't classical musicians are the same problem?
Nah it’s not all the same, different goals in each genre, requires, they each require different skills to be great, though many commonalities, but different forms of expression
Wish Lenny Breau RIP, whom Chet once told Tommy Emmanuel was the greatest guitar player walking the face of the earth, heard this message early in his life and took it to heart. God bless Sonny for sharing his wisdom.
@@deacon8754 since you asked...i am retiref. I owned and operated a pljmbing buskness forv48 years. Many times when destitute people had a clogged basement a leaking pipe or a faucet that was shot i would head out to my truvk to " write them a bill" but instead would drive away without charging them. I got countless thanm you letters.....which i valued MORE than the cash.......suck on that. And as a plumber....well...that's pretty much unheard of.
And old head once told me what has more power you or a bag of dope it opened my eyes to the reality of those who gave power over themselves to the dope. I now believe he was sent by the Holy Spirit to help me not fall to far away.
I honestly think every improviser should experiment playing a gig/jam while on magic mushrooms at some point in their life
I always felt like the outcast among a lot of jazz musicians because I didn’t do that. My other passion besides playing jazz is training in boxing. Luckily, I managed to get a few in my jazz social circle to be interested in boxing and the health benefits of it as well. Didn’t hurt that many of their jazz heroes like miles, red garland, Charlie Christian and other jazz musicians who were also into boxing.
Sonny WHO?! MUSTA BEEN MY GRANDPA'S GENERATION.
You don’t really need drugs to make great jazz but you need real life experiences and to really be in touch with those experiences and drugs can put you through that and get you there but there are other ways as well.
I ❤️ Sonny without qualification but why are we asking jazz musicians about drugs as if they are experts? We don’t need another cautionary tale about drugs from the crowd of people who want alcohol served to them by 21 year old waiters at restaurants.
Maybe you don't need all that to play good Jazz, but maybe you need it to play great Jazz?
The model for”Bleeding gums Murphy”.
When music thrills you for real, no drugs are needed.
Am I the only that only focused on the balls in the background
I remember being on acid jamming on some blues with a friend, we ended up accidentally inventing jazz.
Sorry man but- you cant tell me i dont play better after a coffee and a joint haha
Eyes are as bloodshot as a mothafucker lol
It's sad that so many are destroyed by using drugs. 😪
The Giants, like Sonny Rollins and so many others, were great in spite of the burden of drugs or alcohol.
A beautiful soul.
I started listening to jazz and it turned me into a junkie!
John Richard Handy (still alive at almost 92), a friend of mine was in the business for over 70 yrs didn’t do drugs. I call him and maybe ask him one sentence…he goes on and on about the scenes back then. A living phenomenon!
Taking drugs to get their spirit out..wow..never heard it that way..poignant & true!
A key thing here, he went to be a day labourer to get off the drug. He completely changed his life, there is something there, put addicts in a physical space where they use their brain and body to rewire themselves.
true. change the environment . behaviours and inner belief and one can change their lives
artists are often unusual people, sensitive people, persceptive people... this makes them subject to being maligned, misunderstood, mistreated, etc by friends & family which causes TRAUMA which leads to substance abuse. so it's not that JAZZ goes with drug abuse, it's that TRAUMA leads to drug abuse, and artists are more likely to have sustained trauma i their lives.
To be any type of artist is a difficult life in the modern world. But please don‘t forget that before modern times, way before, the Shaman took substances to bring them closer to their god. Many, many artists feel and have experienced this effect for themselves. And, let us not forget all the catholic priests that become alcoholics. 😉 (I know, I know. Cheep shot.)
I don't need to be a jazz artist to know that anyone who uses/abuses coke, heroin, etc., won't have much of a life worth living, no matter how good the music sounds.....I don't think we need to go down the list of jazz tragedies, all behind addictions.....especially heroin, cocaine, alcohol
Two words: Dave Brubeck
Take it from me. The drugs don't enhance your creativity they make life temporarily satisfying while but ultimately sacrificing everything. Sure I'm talking bout the hard stuff. It's escapism...induced medication and transcendental states. All these feelings and emotions are available in waking life without the accelerant. I pray the young curious artists out there don't succumb to the depravity of addiction. Explore life on its terms and your a better man for it. Bird was saddened by the influence he had on jazz n smack. God bless the countless youth in our country dependant on Opiates. May they find peace.
From Wikipedia - (DOB Sept 7 1930) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Rollins
Activating our varying degrees of evolved genetic predisposition for religious belief offers sufficient amounts of dopamine
OASIS 2025!!!!!
if you need drugs to make music are you really that good?
Psychologically drugs turn off your insight and self awareness, next minute you are in the "gutter" acting like an aresehole in an ego tunnel without windows
Dudes skin is glowing how old is he here
It's not about jazz musicians, it maybe more to do with fame. Look at all the famous people who have dead young. Fame kills?
Jazz musician are nothing special, Jazz musicians, rock musicians, artists it's all the same, Sonny. Why don't classical musicians are the same problem?
Nah it’s not all the same, different goals in each genre, requires, they each require different skills to be great, though many commonalities, but different forms of expression
Lee Morgan was taken too soon
Chet Baker destroyed himself with heroin.
When you get the jazz you get the smack
I used to play jazz on drugs. At least it sounded like jazz when i was on drugs.
I agree with Sonny Rollins. Unfortunately, musicians in other genres of music get caught up in this unfortunate lifestyle, and we lose them too soon.😢
Wish Lenny Breau RIP, whom Chet once told Tommy Emmanuel was the greatest guitar player walking the face of the earth, heard this message early in his life and took it to heart. God bless Sonny for sharing his wisdom.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻♥️♥️♥️
Nice Work Sonny! WooF!!🐶🐶
Thats true greatness! Not saying the word that many would like to hear.. 🙏❤️
Aaaaaahhhhh....it's sad old junkies like this that give jazz a bad name.
Dude is a legend, legends never die. where is your contribution to society?
@@deacon8754 since you asked...i am retiref. I owned and operated a pljmbing buskness forv48 years. Many times when destitute people had a clogged basement a leaking pipe or a faucet that was shot i would head out to my truvk to " write them a bill" but instead would drive away without charging them. I got countless thanm you letters.....which i valued MORE than the cash.......suck on that. And as a plumber....well...that's pretty much unheard of.
I don't play any instrument but boy-oh-boy I live like a jazz musician
And old head once told me what has more power you or a bag of dope it opened my eyes to the reality of those who gave power over themselves to the dope. I now believe he was sent by the Holy Spirit to help me not fall to far away.
Now about those giant brass balls in the background...
Just saw how Sonny is still alive! What a man!
The people who are into Jazz have to be under the influence...especially the audience.
So many great musicians that died young or were psychologically altered because of taking these drugs... I agree with Rollins
"No Junk, No Soul"
Ian McKaye