Rollins keep the music rollin’

Having a long and successful career in the music business seems to be getting harder and harder by the day. In today’s world of “American Idol,” where winners who are never heard from again or “Youtube” sensations who are here today and gone tomorrow, a successful musician who has played and continues to play for more than 50 years is certainly an anomaly – unless, of course, your name is Sonny Rollins. This legendary tenor saxophonist has been playing his own style of music since the late 1940s and continues to thrill audiences with his distinctive sound and unique improvisational style.

After entering the scene in the early 1950s on recordings with such jazz legends as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk, Rollins took one of his well-known sabbaticals from performing and started practicing for 15 or 16 hours at a time under the Williamsburg Bridge on the Lower East Side of New York. Some say that playing hour after hour against the city’s noisy backdrop is how he developed his distinctive sound on the tenor. After coming back on the scene stronger than ever in the 1960s, Rollins became known for his electrifying live performances, sometimes needing no accompaniment at all from his supporting musicians.

Angelenos will be able to experience a rare Rollins live performance on Thursday, Sept. 22, at Royce Hall, as part of the UCLA Live music program. Even at the age of 81, Rollins’ innovative improvisations have the ability to captivate music fans of all genres. Joining Rollins on stage will be his long-time bassist, Bob Cranshaw, Peter Bernstein on guitar, Sammy Figueroa on percussion and Kobie Watkins playing drums.

The following week at Royce Hall, UCLA Live presents a free concert by the 67-member Symphonic Jazz Orchestra, conducted by co-music director (and Culver City schools music teacher) Mitch Glickman, who will be joined by bass player extraordinare Christian McBride. The program features the world premiere of a new work composed by SJO co-music director George Duke for McBride and the orchestra. Tickets are available in person at the UCLA Central Ticket Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information on the concert program can be found at uclalive.org/.

The multi-media music and dance ensemble known as String Theory will transform the entire Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood into a harp-like sonic sculpture in a concert on Thursday, Sept. 15. Extending the entire length of the venue, the audience will be sitting inside an array of instruments to experience an evening of eclectic music, video installations and dance. String Theory accompanies their harps with cello, Theremin, violin, saxophone, bass, guitar, keys, saw, accordion, tablas, flute, samples, a myriad of exotic and invented percussion and vocals. Their music ranges from 15th century Renaissance to rock, electronica and experimental.

With singer/songwriter and composer David Poe sitting in as special guest, String Theory will premiere their latest film collaboration with filmmakers Shand and Sean McAllen, performing a live score. This rare public performance begins at 8:30 p.m. and more information on tickets can be found at fordtheatres.org/.

Live music and some of the freshest food around will be in abundance during the Good Food Festival beginning this Thursday and continuing throughout the weekend. The Santa Monica Farmers Market is celebrating its 30th anniversary by partnering with FamilyFarmed.org to launch the Southern California Good Food Festival and Conference. FamilyFarmed.org’s goal is to expand the production, marketing and distribution of locally grown and responsibly produced food in order to enhance local communities. The event kicks off on Thursday with the Localicious Gala celebration at the Annenberg Beach House, where 30 Los Angeles chefs will be paired with 30 farmers from the market. Music will come courtesy of the Vibrolux Quartet, whose members are all first-call studio cats, which should make for a rollicking mix of pop, rock and jazz standards. Ticketing and event information can be found at goodfoodfestivals.com/santamonica.

Jazz at LACMA continues its free concert series Friday, Sept. 16, with the Phil Ranelin Jazz Ensemble. Trombonist Phil Ranelin is best known as a former Freddie Hubbard sideman and co-founder of Detroit’s famed Tribe Records. He has played with Ella Fitzgerald, Art Pepper, Teddy Edwards and Sarah Vaughn, among many others. Friday night’s show takes place at the museum’s BP Grand Entrance and begins at 6 p.m.

Jonathan Weiss is a Los Angeles-based music supervisor for film, TV and advertising. Email him at jonjaz@aol.com.