This Is What I Do

Released in 2000, 'This Is What I Do' serves as a definitive late-career statement for Sonny Rollins, earning him a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. After a period of mixed critical reception in the 1990s, this record was hailed as a return to form, showcasing his 'earthiest' playing in decades. The album is notable for its blend of original compositions like 'Salvador' and 'Charles M.' (a tribute to Charles Mingus) with idiosyncratic covers of pop standards like 'Sweet Leilani.' The production by Rollins and his long-time collaborators emphasizes a clean, studio-polished sound that highlights his massive tenor tone. The presence of Jack DeJohnette on drums provides a sophisticated rhythmic complexity that pushes Rollins into some of his most inspired improvisations of the era. Critics from The Penguin Guide to Jazz and AllMusic noted that while it doesn't reinvent the genre, it captures the essence of Rollins' musical identity: his wit, his rhythmic elasticity, and his unparalleled ability to construct long, thematic solos.