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Photo Gallery: 'Saxophone Colossus: A Celebration of Life and Music of Sonny Rollins'

WBGO | By Jonathan Chimene,
Doug Doyle
Published September 26, 2026 at 8:25 AM EDT
Saxophonists pay tribute to Sonny Rollins at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
1 of 25  — Celebration.jpeg
Saxophonists pay tribute to Sonny Rollins at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Gary Bartz, Eddie Henderson and Rufus Reid at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
2 of 25  — Bartz Henderson Reid.jpeg
Gary Bartz, Eddie Henderson and Rufus Reid at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Joe Lovano at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
3 of 25  — Joe Lovano.jpeg
Joe Lovano at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Gary Bartz at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
4 of 25  — Gary Bartz.jpeg
Gary Bartz at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Camille Thurman at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
5 of 25  — Camille Thurman 2.jpeg
Camille Thurman at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Clifton Anderson and Victor See Yuen at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
6 of 25  — Clifton Anderson Victor See Yuen.jpeg
Clifton Anderson and Victor See Yuen at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Chris Potter, Rufus Reid and Bobby Broom at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
7 of 25  — Chris Potter Rufus Reid Bobby Broom.jpeg
Chris Potter, Rufus Reid and Bobby Broom at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Charles Tolliver at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
8 of 25  — Charles Tolliver.jpeg
Charles Tolliver at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Henry Threadgill at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
9 of 25  — Henry Threadgill.jpeg
Henry Threadgill at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Bill Saxton at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
10 of 25  — Bill Saxton.jpeg
Bill Saxton at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Bobby Brown at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
11 of 25  — Bobby Broom.jpeg
Bobby Brown at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jon Faddis at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
12 of 25  — Jon Faddis.jpeg
Jon Faddis at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Jazz Foundation's Joe Petrucelli at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
13 of 25  — Joe Petruceli Jazz Foundatioin.jpeg
Jazz Foundation's Joe Petrucelli at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Jeff "Tain" Watts at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
14 of 25  — Jeff Tain Watts.jpeg
Jeff "Tain" Watts at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
George Braith at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
15 of 25  — George Braith.jpeg
George Braith at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Lenny White at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
16 of 25  — Lenny White.jpeg
Lenny White at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
René McLean at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
17 of 25  — Rene McClean.jpeg
René McLean at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Kenny Davis at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
18 of 25  — Kenny Davis.jpeg
Kenny Davis at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Ron Blake at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
19 of 25  — Ron Balke.jpeg
Ron Blake at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Jason Moran at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
20 of 25  — Jason Moran.jpeg
Jason Moran at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Eddie Henderson at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
21 of 25  — Eddie Henderson.jpeg
Eddie Henderson at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Denardo Coleman at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
22 of 25  — Denardo Coleman.jpeg
Denardo Coleman at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Clifton Anderson at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
23 of 25  — Clifton Anderson.jpeg
Clifton Anderson at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Bernie Maupin at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
24 of 25  — Bernie Maupin.jpeg
Bernie Maupin at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene
Musicians and friends gather at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
25 of 25  — Celebration 2.jpeg
Musicians and friends gather at "Saxophone Colossus": Celebration of Life and Music at Cathedral of St. John The Divine in NYC on September 19, 2026
Jonathan Chimene

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City was packed on Saturday, September 19, 2026 for "Saxophone Colossus": A Celebration of the Life and Music of the late great jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins.

Photographer and former WBGO staffer Jonathan Chimene captured the highlights of the event that was free and open to the public.

Sonny Rollins died on May 25, 2026 at the age of 95.
Tags
Music Sonny RollinsJazzJonathan ChimeneWBGO
Jonathan Chimene
Long time music lover and WBGO listener, Jonathan proudly joined the WBGO team in Mid 2018.  He is a former collegiate and tournament tennis player – with international experience both as a player and a coach. Jonathan is a published photographer, who enjoys checking out jazz clubs and festivals throughout the world, and is a life-long, die-hard New York Mets fan. Raised in Central NJ but  after a long stint in Chicago, he has resided in Brooklyn for the past two decades.
See stories by Jonathan Chimene
Doug Doyle
Doug Doyle has been News Director at WBGO since 1998. Since then, Doug and his news staff have received more than 300 awards from organizations like PRNDI (now PMJA), AP, New York Association of Black Journalists, Garden State Association of Black Journalists and the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists.
See stories by Doug Doyle