Sonny Simmons

[gyrofrog.com]

I remember Tim Price, among others, had discussed Sonny Simmons on the old forum.

I recently picked up Sonny's "Ancient Ritual" CD for about $3 from half.com (the postage was more than the CD itself). Very nice CD, his tone and playing remind me of Ornette Coleman but the music, overall, seems more "in" to these ears (OTOH, I've mentioned before that I've had trouble getting behind his "Manhattan Egos" album).

I can't remember the name of the third song on this CD... It's a woman's name and the song is a very beautiful ballad. I've been meaning to try playing along to it since I got the CD, I think I'll go downstairs and give it a whirl right now...

[gyrofrog.com]

"Theme for Linda" is the name of that pretty ballad, and it wasn't as easy as I thought it might be. The melody is pretty simple (and I think there are only three chords in the whole piece) but I forgot the improv was that busy. I was definitley not "playing along" with Sonny though I was pleased that I was able to improvise.

In addition to Sonny sounding like Ornette, the song itself sounds like one of Ornette's. There's an Ornette song, I think from "In All Languages," with a very similar theme.

[Dig Gonsalves]

Check out the recent live '94 release from Paris:
http://www.arhoolie.com/titles/506.shtml

It's most of the "Ancient Ritual" material (using different names), plus more, and Live. The recording is from the audience, but you get to hear The Real Sonny Simmons Sound.
You've got to hear this.

I'd also recommend checking out Jimmy Lyons, Marco Eneidi, Rob Brown, and Jemeel Moondoc.

[Tim Price]

Sonnys thing and Ornettes thing is linked via Bird.

Sonny is a serious INTERVALIC mind, I've learned some very unique intervalic shapes from him.Plus his english horn playing...Wow.

I'd love to hear Ornette play more tenor to.
Somehow these guys should be recorded more via their age.IMHO.
Ditto Lew Tabackin, you guys should hear him on my poly-free tunes
or the free things where I play bass clarinet and he plays tenor.He'll
melt your minds :)
If I had my druthers, I'd record a woodwind quartet with Sonny on English horn, me on bassoon, and Tabackin on flute and other guests.
But, its tough to find outlets to buy the product.Sonny loves the idea.
ONWARD :!:

[Tim Price]

Another guy comes to mind is Anthony Ortega.

[BayviewSax]

My favorite Sonny Simmons album is African Jungle. A particularly b*tchin' version of MY FAVORITE THINGS, but the ultimate is the tune AMERICAN JUNGLE THEME. SS spent a lot of years playing solo on the sidewalk and the angst of that lifestyle prevails throughout the tune. If you're a fan of energy and emotion, you should own this disc.

[BayviewSax]

My mistake, sleep deprivation takes its toll: The name of the disc is AMERICAN JUNGLE.

[Jazzed]

I used to see Sonny often playing in the streets in San Francisco... what an inspiration for me as a player. What a drag that such a genius was playing in the streets. Stay clean.

[Dig Gonsalves]

more Sonny available at multi-reedist Brandon Evans' site:

http://www.parallactic.com/sonnysimmons.html

also, several Anthony Braxton dates as well...

Including New Solo dates from both.

Dig Andromeda.

[Ken]

I remember Tim Price, among others, had discussed Sonny Simmons on the old forum.

I recently picked up Sonny's "Ancient Ritual" CD for about $3 from half.com (the postage was more than the CD itself). Very nice CD, his tone and playing remind me of Ornette Coleman but the music, overall, seems more "in" to these ears (OTOH, I've mentioned before that I've had trouble getting behind his "Manhattan Egos" album).

I can't remember the name of the third song on this CD... It's a woman's name and the song is a very beautiful ballad. I've been meaning to try playing along to it since I got the CD, I think I'll go downstairs and give it a whirl right now...

I've been getting CD's of some of the underrated players and "Ancient Ritual" one is one of my favourites so far. He seems to be playing very melodically on this one, I was expecting something more way out. I could hear some similarities with Ornette Coleman but, at least on this CD, I could hear more Bird/bebop in his playing than I do with Coleman.

I don't know if this is how he usually plays, but if you've never heard Sonny Simmons before I would say this would be a great first CD to get a taste.