Saxophonist Sonny Rollins dies at 89

Sonny Rollins died at his home in Woodstock, New York, on Monday afternoon, according to a statement from his publicist.

Rollins had a career that began in the late 1940s. He worked with artists including Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane and released more than 60 albums as a band leader. He won two Grammys before respiratory illness forced him to retire in 2014.

A 2009 quote of his accompanied the announcement of his death: "I think when the creative person ends, he continues in the next existence. I'm a person who believes this life isn't the be-all and end-all of everything. A spiritual person doesn't feel like that."

In an interview with Jazz Times, Rollins described his immediate fascination with the instrument with which he would build his fame.

"My mother gave me my first saxophone, an alto saxophone, when I was 7 years old. I got the saxophone and I went into the bedroom and I started playing – that was it. I was in seventh heaven... I could have been there forever," he said.

It led to one of his most famous albums, 1962's The Bridge, and has sparked calls for the bridge to be renamed in his honour.

Known for long solos, Rollins was considered among the best improvisers and told PBS he would go on stage with his mind blank and no plan beyond an awareness of the structure of the piece.