"St. Thomas" is among the most recognizable instrumentals in the repertoire of American
jazz tenor saxophonist
Sonny Rollins
Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. In a seven-decade career, he has recorded over sixty albums as a ...
. Although Rollins is commonly credited as its composer, the tune is based on the traditional Bahamian folksong "Sponger Money" and the traditional English song "
The Lincolnshire Poacher". By way of the
folk process, "The Lincolnshire Poacher" evolved into a nursery song in the
Virgin Islands, which Rollins' mother sang to him when he was a child.
[Interview on Open Source radio at starting about 4.00 minutes in.]
"St. Thomas" became popular when it was released on Rollins's 1956 album ''
Saxophone Colossus'', though it had been recorded by
Randy Weston in 1955 under the title "Fire Down There", on his ''Get Happy'' album.
The tune is featured as background for the Trask wedding scene in the 1988 film "Working Girl".
Selected discography
* ''
Alone Together Alone Together may refer to:
Music
Albums
* ''Alone Together'' (Benny Carter album), 1956
* ''Alone Together'' (Tony Bennett album), 1961
* ''Alone Together'' (Dave Mason album), 1970
* ''Alone Together'' (Ron Carter and Jim Hall album), 1972 ...
'',
Ron Carter
Ronald Levin Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double bassist. His appearances on 2,221 recording sessions make him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. He has won three Grammy awards, and is also a cellist who has recorded nu ...
and
Jim Hall (1972) (St. Thomas arranged for acoustic bass and guitar)
* ''Where There's Smoke'', Dallas Original Jazz Orchestra (2009) (St. Thomas arranged for big band in 1976 by Gene Glover)
References
1950s jazz standards
Sonny Rollins songs
Jazz compositions in C major
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