Sonny Rollins

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On May 25, 2026, Walter Theodore “Sonny” Rollins died aged 95. He was musician (soprano and tenor saxophone), bandleader and composer, widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of all time. He recorded and performed with Miles David, Dizzy Gillespie, J. J. Johnson, Thelonious Monk, Max Roach, Kenny Dorham, Art Farmer, Babs Gonzales, Ernie Henry, Abbey Lincoln, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Fats Navarro, Bud Powell, The Rolling Stones, McCoy Tyner, Ron Carter and Al Foster. As leader he released 46 studio album and 15 live albums. For his work he received many awards including

  • Elected to the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame (1973)
  • Honorary Doctor of Arts from Bard College (1992)
  •  Honorary Doctor of Music from Wesleyan University (1998)
  • Honorary Doctor of Music from Long Island University (1998)
  • Honorary Doctor of Music from Duke University (1999)
  • Honorary Doctor of Music from New England Conservatory of Music (2002)
  • Honorary Doctor of Music from Berklee College of Music (2003)
  • Grammy Award for lifetime achievement (2004)
  • Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards
  • Council member Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2006)
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota officially named October 31, 2006, after Rollins in honor of his achievements and contributions to the world of jazz
  • Polar Music Prize “for over 50 years one of the most powerful and personal voices in jazz” (2007)
  • Honorary Doctor of Music from Colby College (2007)
  • Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class (2009)
  • Honorary Doctor of Music from Rutgers University (2009)
  • National Medal of Arts (2010)
  • Miles Davis Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival (2010)
  • Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2010)
  • Edward MacDowell Medal (2010)
  • Kennedy Center Honors on his 81st birthday (September 7, 2011)
  • Honorary Doctor of Music from the Juilliard School (May 2013)
  • Honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Hartford (2015)

Beto Guedes, Danilo Caymmi, Novelli, Toninho Horta: Same

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On May 26, 1973, “Odeon” label released the self-titled Beto Guedes, Danilo Caymmi, Novelli and Toninho Horta album.

Personnel:

  • Beto Guedes – vocals, acoustic guitar, drums
  • Novelli (Djair de Barros e Silva) – piano
  • Toninho Horta – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, percussion, technician
  • Frederico Mendonça de Oliveira – guitar
  • Nelson Angelo – guitar
  • Francisco Tenório Cerqueira Junior – electric piano
  • José Geraldo – organ
  • Flavio Venturini – accordion
  • Salomão Borges Filho – bass
  • Fernando Leporace – bass
  • Robertinho Silva – drums
  • Djair de Barros e Silva – percussion
  • Carlos Mauricio Mendonça Figueiredo – percussion
  • Everaldo Ferreira – congas
  • Danilo Caymmi – flute
  • Paulino Jobim – flute
  • Paulo Guimarães – flute
  • Lena Horta – backing vocals
  • Maestro Gaya – music director
  • Z.J. Merky – engineer
  • Jorge Teixeira – remix
  • Dacy Rodrigues – technician
  • Nivaldo Duarte – technician
  • Reny R. Lippi – lacquer cut
  • Carlos da Silva Assunção Filho – cover, photography
  • Ronaldo Bastos – cover
  • Milton Miranda – production director
  • Nelson Angelo – production assistant

Track listing:

  1. Caso Você Queira Saber –  Beto Guedes, Marcio Borges
  2. Meu Canário Vizinho Azul – Toninho Horta
  3. Viva Eu – Novelli, Wagner Tiso
  4. Belo Horror – Beto Guedes, Flávio Hugo, Marcio Borges, José Geraldo
  5. Ponta Negra – Danilo Caymmi, João Carlos Pádua
  6. Meio A Meio – Novelli
  7. Manuel O Audaz – Fernando Brant, Toninho Horta
  8. Luiza – Novelli
  9. Serra Do Mar – Danilo Caymmi, Ronaldo Bastos

Iris: Litanies

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On May 26, 1972, “Connections” label released “Litanies”, the debut Iris album. It was recorded 1971 – 1972, and was produced by Didier Appert, Hervé Bergerat and Jacques Ph. Lagier.

Personnel:

  • Gérard Cappagli – guitar
  • Alain Carbonare – keyboards
  • Tony Carbonare – bass
  • Gilbert Henry – drums
  • Hervé Bergerat – artistic direction
  • Pierre Guichon – engineer
  • G. Lochu – design
  • Yves Van Waerbeke – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Gérard Cappagli, Alain Carbonare, Tony Carbonare and Gilbert Henry.

  1. Chrysalide
  2. Jus De Citron
  3. Donnez Moi De L’eau
  4. Songe
  5. Oracle
  6. Décadence
  7. Ballade Pour Une Minette Plastique
  8. L’étoile Artificielle
  9. Le Livre De Litanies

Tyrone Washington: Natural Essence

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In May 1968, “Blue Note” label released “Natural Essence”, the debut Tyrone Washington studio album. It was recorded in December 1967, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Duke Pearson and Francis Wolff.

Personnel:

  • Tyrone Washington – tenor saxophone
  • James Spaulding – alto saxophone, flute
  • Woody Shaw – trumpet
  • Kenny Barron – piano
  • Reggie Workman – bass
  • Joe Chambers – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Tyrone Washington

  1. Natural Essence
  2. Yearning for Love
  3. Positive Path
  4. Soul Dance
  5. Ethos
  6. Song of Peace

Dio: Holy Diver

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On May 25, 1983, “Warner Bros” label released “Holy Diver”, the debut Dio studio album. It was recorded in 1983, at “Sound City” in Van Nuys, California, and was produced by Ronnie James Dio. In 2017, it was ranked 16th on Rolling Stone’s list of “100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie James Dio – vocals, keyboards
  • Vivian Campbell – guitar
  • Jimmy Bain – bass, keyboards
  • Vinny Appice – drums
  • Angelo Arcuri – engineer
  • Ray Leonard – engineer assistant
  • George Marino – mastering
  • Randy Berrett – illustration
  • Gene Hunter – original art rendering
  • Gene Hunter – mastering
  • Wendy Dio – original concept

Track listing:

All lyrics by Ronnie James Dio, music as stated.

  1. Stand Up and Shout – Ronnie James Dio, Jimmy Bain
  2. Holy Diver – Ronnie James Dio
  3. Gypsy – Ronny James Dio, Vivian Campbell
  4. Caught in the Middle – Ronnie James Dio, Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell
  5. Don’t Talk to Strangers – Ronnie James Dio
  6. Straight Through the Heart – Ronnie James Dio, Jimmy Bain
  7. Invisible – Ronnie James Dio, Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell
  8. Rainbow in the Dark – Ronnie James Dio, Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell, Jimmy Bain
  9. Shame on the Night – Ronnie James Dio, Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell, Jimmy Bain

Casiopea: Same

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On May 25, 1979, “Alfa” label released the self-titled, debut Casiopea album. It was recorded December 1978 – March 1979, at “Studio A” in Tokyo, “Power Station” in New York City, and was produced by Kunihiko Murai, Syoro Kawazoe, Shinji Sawada  and Kazusuke Obi.

Personnel:

  • Issei Noro – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, arrangements
  • Minoru Mukaiya – Fender Rhodes piano, acoustic piano, Yamaha SK-20, Yamaha Electone EX-1, vibraphone
  • Tetsuo Sakurai – 1974 Natural Finish Fender Jazz bass guitar
  • Takashi Sasaki – drums
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • Tomato Strings Ensemble – strings
  • Jun Fukamachi – horn arrangements
  • Hiroki Inul – string arrangements
  • Al Schmitt, Norio Yoshizawa, Yasuhiko Terada – recording
  • Neil Dorfsman – recording
  • Mitsuo Koike – engineer assistant
  • James Farber – engineer assistant
  • Yasuhiko Terada – mixing
  • Toshikuni Okubo – illustration
  • Shigeru Wada – photography
  • Kunihiko Murai, Syoro Kawazoe – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Issei Noro.

  1. Time Limit
  2. Tears of the Star
  3. Space Road
  4. Midnight Rendezvous
  5. Far Away
  6. Swallow
  7. Dream Hill
  8. Black Joke

Dick Parry

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On May 22, 2026, Richard Parry died aged 83. He was musician (saxophone, keyboards), best known for his work with Pink Floyd (played on sone of their best known songs, including “Money”, “Us and Them”, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Wearing the Inside Out”. As session musician he recorded saxophone for many artists, including J.J. Jackson, Rory Gallagher, Mike Vernon, Pete Wingfield, Quiver, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Mick Grabham, Jimmy Dawkins, Lightnin’ Slim, Kazimierz Lux, Andy Roberts, Bloodstone, John Entswile, Les Humphries Singers, Jimmy Witherspoon, Duster Bennett, Paice Ashton Lord, Banco de Gaia, David Gilmour and Deborah Bonham.

Wayne Shorter: Second Coming

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In May 1974, “Vee-Jay” label released “Second Genesis”, the second Wayne Shorter studio album. It was recorded in October 1960, at “Universal Recorders” in Chicago, and was produced by Sid McCoy.

Personnel:

  • Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone
  • Cedar Walton – piano
  • Bob Cranshaw – double-bass
  • Art Blakey – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Wayne Shorter, except where noted.

  1. Ruby and the Pearl – Ray Evans, Jay Livingston
  2. Pay as You Go
  3. Second Genesis
  4. Mr. Chairman
  5. Tenderfoot
  6. The Albatross
  7. Getting to Know You – Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
  8. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers

Minnie Riperton: Perfect Angel

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On May 24, 1974, “Epic” label released “Perfect Angel”, the second Minnie Riperton studio album. It was recorded 1973 – 1974, at :the Record Plant” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Stevie Wonder and Richard Rudolph (as Scorbu Productions).

Personnel:

  • Minnie Riperton – vocals
  • Stevie Wonder (as El Toro Negro) – acoustic and electric piano, drums, cymbals, bass drum, harmonica, arrangements
  • Marlo Henderson – lead guitar
  • Michael Sembello – lead guitar
  • Richard Rudolph – guitar
  • Reggie McBride – bass
  • Ollie E. Brown – drums
  • Rocki Dzidzornu – congas
  • Deniece Williams – backing vocals
  • Yvonne Wright – backing vocals
  • Shirley Brewer – backing vocals
  • Lani Groves – backing vocals
  • Malcolm Cecil – engineer, associate producer
  • Robert Margouleff – engineer, associate producer
  • Gary Olazabal – engineer assistant
  • Baker Bigsby – remix engineer assistant
  • Kent Duncan – mastering
  • Barry Feinstein – cover 
  • Ann Garner – artwork

Track listing:

All tracks by Minnie Riperton and Richard Rudolph, except where noted.

  1. Reasons
  2. It’s So Nice (To See Old Friends)
  3. Take a Little Trip – Stevie Wonder
  4. Seeing You This Way
  5. The Edge of a Dream
  6. Perfect Angel – Stevie Wonder
  7. Every Time He Comes Around
  8. Lovin’ You
  9. Our Lives

Lazuli: Réponse Incongrue À L’Inéluctable

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On May 23, 2009, “Eclats Production” label released “Réponse Incongrue À L’Inéluctable”, the fourth Lazuli album.

Personnel:

  • Dominique Leonetti – vocals, guitars
  • Gédéric Byar – guitar
  • Claude Leonetti – Léode
  • Sylvain Bayol – Chapman stick, warr guitar
  • Yohan Siméon – percussion, métalophone, guitar
  • Frédéric Juan – marimba, vibes, percussion
  • Jean Pascal Boffo – guitar, programming

Track listing:

  1. Abime
  2. On Nous Ment Comme On Respire
  3. La Vie Par La Face Nord
  4. Aimants
  5. Toujours Un Gars Sur Un Pont
  6. Prologue
  7. La Belle Noirceur
  8. Epilogue
  9. L’Essentiel

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