Sonny Simmons RIP

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Rumors earlier, this now seems confirmed...
"The great American saxophonist died at the age of 87. Fiery and often misunderstood, the jazzman will have had a chaotic career marked by disappearances and comebacks between the United States and France..." - "Liberation" obit, France, 9 April.

RIP Sonny.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Sonny Simmons - "Reincarnation" 2005.

http://youtu.be/2TRdD4PlS5Q

[Ian Thumwood]

Sonny Simmons was a favourite on the old board, largely as a consequence of his involvement with the Cosmetics that also included the bassist William Parker. From recollection, didn't someone interview him here after gig and comment that he was a very nice gentleman?

I have a live recording of him with Horace Tapscott which runs through a number of hoary old standards and effectively turned this music inside out. An underrated plater.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

He came to London in 2008 and played the Vortex. The BBC recorded the date (Jez Nelson as below) and I've got a C90 cassette (what else) of it in one of me boxes. Somewhere! I must dig it out.


"The Sonny Simmons Quartet at the Vortex Jazz Club
Jazz on 3

Jez Nelson presents a gig by the Sonny Simmons Quartet given earlier this month at the Vortex Jazz Club in London. Featuring Derek Saw (trumpet/trombone), John Jasnoch (guitar/oud) and Charlie Collins (drums/cajon).

Simmons moved to New York via Los Angeles to join the emerging free jazz movement of the 1960s and his ESP albums Staying on the Watch and Music from the Spheres are considered classics. After personal problems in the 1970s, he dropped out of music and was rediscovered after spending 15 years playing on the streets of San Francisco.

Simmons does not limit himself to avant-garde strains of jazz, and his role in the development of the tradition is vital, having worked with jazz giants such as Eric Dolphy and Sonny Rollins."

[Jazzrook]

Sonny Simmons with Barbara Donald, Juma & Paul Smith playing 'Coltrane in Paradise' from the 1969 album 'Manhattan Egos':

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=V_4OM41Fmjk

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=B5WvGvmdFEo

A talented saxophonist who deserved to be much better known.

JR

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

I've found another tape of Sonny, from November 2005 in London as below, I've never played it back since. It's very good in that semi free idiom...
" Jazz on 3
Cosmosamatics
Jez Nelson interviews Sonny Simmons and presents the second half of Cosmosamatics' first UK performance recorded at the 2005 London Jazz Festival. Cosmosamatics play free jazz rooted in bebop that incorporates strong melodic themes. Simmons co-leads with multi-reed specialist Michael Marcus , and the line-up is completed by bassist Masa Kamaguchi and drummer Clifford Barbaro. Producer KathrynWillgress The first half of this concert was broadcast in Nov 2005"

[Tenor Freak]

He was also one of the few saxophonists to double on cor anglais (English Horn to the yanks). Somewhere, "mr improv" and "King Kennytone" (sic) will be playing his stuff. RIP, 87's a good age to get to in this game.