Sax Colossus: Sonny Rollins

Pavel Arakelian - sax Dmitrij Golovanov - piano Aliaksei Kryshtal - double bass Augustas Baronas - drums (bebop, postbop)

Jazz Cellar 11 invites you to a jazz evening dedicated to honoring the life and music of one of the genre's greatest legends – Sonny Rollins. 2026 became a special year for the jazz world – on May 25th, we said goodbye to one of the most significant tenor saxophone masters of all time. This concert is a tribute to the exceptional career of Sonny Rollins, whose innovative sound, extraordinary art of improvisation, and immense contribution to the development of jazz have inspired countless generations of musicians.

During the evening, a team of the country's most prominent jazz performers will take the stage, honoring Rollins' creative genius while maintaining their own unique style. From sensitive ballads to energetic hard bop rhythms, the program will feature Sonny Rollins' most famous works and compositions that have become an inseparable part of jazz history.

Over a career spanning more than seven decades, Sonny Rollins recorded more than 60 albums as a bandleader, and his legendary album Saxophone Colossus is considered one of the most important in jazz history. Sonny Rollins' album “Saxophone Colossus” became an important historical event in jazz music. It is in his honor that Jazz Cellar 11 is hosting a whole series of concerts titled Sax Colossus, dedicated to honoring the great jazz saxophonists. Sonny Rollins himself was often called the “Saxophone Colossus” and the “greatest living improviser.” He was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2011, he received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors.

Sonny Rollins was a true jazz innovator, constantly pushing the boundaries of the genre with his creativity, courage, and inexhaustible curiosity. This concert will not only remind us of the music that made Sonny Rollins famous but will also honor his musical legacy, which continues to shape the jazz world.

The first 30 tickets are cheaper.

The “Jazz Cellar 11” club's concert project is partially funded by the Vilnius City Municipality.