EPISODE · May 30, 2026 · 54 MIN
A tribute to Sonny Rollins, Mahalia Barnes sings The Rose, and Cass McCombs live in the studio
from The Music Show · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation
We pay tribute to Sonny Rollins, who died this week at the age of 95. Rollins played with many of the greats of jazz, but was himself something of loner. Driven by ideas of perfection, Rollins played into his 80s, but spent years away the music industry, including a famous three-year sabbatical where he played for no one other than himself on the Williamsburg Bridge in NYC. Andy spoke to Rollins in 2008, and we revisit that conversation here. For some, performing a show taking on the work of Bette Midler could be a little intimidating; Janis Joplin even more so. Mahalia Barnes is doing both at once, performing songs from The Rose as part of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. She shares what those greats mean to her and what she looks for when she covers a song. Live in the Music Show studio, Cass McCombs performs songs from his latest album Interior Live Oak, and talks about his place in the folk tradition and his time writing folk songs for childrenMahalia Barnes performs The Rose is on at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival on the 14th of JuneCass McCombs is performing at the Sydney Opera House for Vivid on the 31st of MayMusic heard in this program:Title: The RoseArtist: Bette MidlerComposer: Amanda McBroomAlbum: The Rose (The Original Soundtrack Recording)Label: AtlanticTitle: The BridgeArtist: Sonny RollinsComposer: Sonny RollinsAlbum: The BridgeLabel: RCATitle: Whose Side Are You OnArtist: Bette MidlerComposer: Charley Williams & Kenny HopkinsAlbum: The Rose (The Original Soundtrack Recording)Label: AtlanticTitle: Stay With MeArtist: Lorraine EllisonComposer: George David Weiss & Jerry RagovoyAlbum: Stay With MeLabel: Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records Title: I'm On FireArtist: Mahalia Barnes and the Soul MatesComposer: Bruce SpringsteenAlbum: I'm On Fire singleLabel: Independent releaseTitle: PriestessArtist: Cass McCombsComposer: Cass McCombsAlbum: Interior Live OakLabel: DominoTitle: Missionary BellArtist: Cass McCombsComposer: Cass McCombsAlbum: Interior Live OakLabel: DominoThe Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country CountryTechnical production by Harvey O'Sullivan, Angela Grant, and Brendan O'Neill
What this episode covers
We pay tribute to Sonny Rollins, who died this week at the age of 95. Rollins played with many of the greats of jazz, but was himself something of loner. Driven by ideas of perfection, Rollins played into his 80s, but spent years away the music industry, including a famous three-year sabbatical where he played for no one other than himself on the Williamsburg Bridge in NYC. Andy spoke to Rollins in 2008, and we revisit that conversation here. For some, performing a show taking on the work of Bette Midler could be a little intimidating; Janis Joplin even more so. Mahalia Barnes is doing both at once, performing songs from The Rose as part of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. She shares what those greats mean to her and what she looks for when she covers a song. Live in the Music Show studio, Cass McCombs performs songs from his latest album Interior Live Oak, and talks about his place in the folk tradition and his time writing folk songs for children Mahalia Barnes performs The Rose is on at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival on the 14th of June Cass McCombs is performing at the Sydney Opera House for Vivid on the 31st of May Music heard in this program: Title: The Rose Artist: Bette Midler Composer: Amanda McBroom Album: The Rose (The Original Soundtrack Recording) Label: Atlantic Title: The Bridge Artist: Sonny Rollins Composer: Sonny Rollins Album: The Bridge Label: RCA Title: Whose Side Are You On Artist: Bette Midler Composer: Charley Williams & Kenny Hopkins Album: The Rose (The Original Soundtrack Recording) Label: Atlantic Title: Stay With Me Artist: Lorraine Ellison Composer: George David Weiss & Jerry Ragovoy Album: Stay With Me Label: Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records Title: I'm On Fire Artist: Mahalia Barnes and the Soul Mates Composer: Bruce Springsteen Album: I'm On Fire single Label: Independent release Title: Priestess Artist: Cass McCombs Composer: Cass McCombs Album: Interior Live Oak Label: Domino Title: Missionary Bell Artist: Cass McCombs Composer: Cass McCombs Album: Interior Live Oak Label: Domino The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Harvey O'Sullivan, Angela Grant, and Brendan O'Neill
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A tribute to Sonny Rollins, Mahalia Barnes sings The Rose, and Cass McCombs live in the studio
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