Aidan Levy- 'Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins' books (Hachette Books)

It’s taken long enough but one of the towering figures not just of his instrument but of 20th century improvisational music finally has a biography that does justice to his stature and accomplishments. It’s a bit hefty, coming in at over 500 pages, but that only speaks to the amount of dedication and research from the author and the epic dimension of this man’s life and the extensive ramifications of his work. For all its heft it’s an inviting and engaging read and never overstays its welcome. A much-needed deep dive into the story of a great American musician.