TENOR Madness is set to break out at a Southampton jazz spot.

The Southampton Jazz Club is staging a tribute to the American jazz tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins at The Talking Heads in Portswood Road, Southampton, tomorrow.

Sonny is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians.

A number of his compositions, including St Thomas, Oleo, Doxy and Airegun have become jazz standards.

New York city-born Sonny grew up in Harlem – not far away from the Savoy Ballroom, the Apollo Theatre and the doorstep of his idol Coleman Hawkins.

After early discovery of Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong, he started on alto saxophone, inspired by Louis Jordan.

At the age of 16, Sonny switched to tenor, trying to emulate Hawkins. He also fell under the spell of the musical revolution that surrounded him, ‘Bebop’.

In the early fifties he established a reputation first among musicians, then the public, as one of the most brash and creative young tenors on the scene through his work with Miles Monk and the MJQ.

Recreating the magical Rollins’ sounds for Southampton jazz aficionados will be three top musicians – Andy Panayi (flute/saxes), Percy Pursglove (bass) and Andrew Bain (drums).

Andy, an award-winning jazz musician, has performed and recorded with many singers including Shirley Bassey, Jessye Norman, Paul McCartney, Salena Jones, Elvis Costello, Georgie Fame, Peter Skellen, Zoot Money, Helen Shapiro and Madeline Bell.

Drummer Andy Bains is one of the leading performers and educators in the United Kingdom.

He was a member of Jacqui Dankworth’s band, recording with the late Sir John Dankworth.

Andy has performed at many prestigious venues in the UK, Europe and the US, including the BBC Proms and the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Bassist Percy Pursglove studied jazz and contemporary music in New York and while he was in the Big Apple performed with various ensembles including The Duke Ellington Orchestra at Birdland and The Coltrane ensemble.

Tenor Madness – tribute to the great Sony Rollins, Southampton Jazz Club, The Talking Heads, Portswood, Southampton, on Tuesday, August 18. For more information, call 02380 678 446.