Standards Sonny Clark

Sonny Clark - Standards (1958) {Blue Note 724382128328, Ron McMaster rel 1998)
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© 1958, 1998 Blue Note / Capitol | 7243 8 21283 2 8
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Piano

The sessions that comprise the 14-track Standards were recorded by Sonny Clark at the end of 1958, with the intention that his interpretations would be issued as 45-rpm singles. His takes on these 12 standards (two of the tracks are alternate takes) are exceptional. Supported by drummer Wes Landers and, on varying dates, either Paul Chambers or Jymie Merritt on bass, Clark turns in lyrical, sensitive renditions of "Dancing In the Dark," "All of You," "I Cover the Waterfront," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "Black Velvet" and "I'm Just a Lucky So And So," among others. Although some of the performances are a little brief, limiting his opportunity to solo, Standards is a lovely collection of beautiful music that's a welcome addition to Clark's catalog.

Sonny Clark - Dial "S" for Sonny (1957) {Blue Note 7243 8 75338 2 0, RVG Edition rel 2005}
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© 1957, 2005 Blue Note / Capitol | 7243 8 75338 2 0
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Piano

Dial "S" for Sonny, Sonny Clark's first session for Blue Note Records and his first session as a leader, is a terrific set of laidback bop, highlighted by Clark's liquid, swinging solos. Clark leads a first-rate group – Art Farmer (trumpet), Curtis Fuller (trombone), Hank Mobley (tenor sax), Wilbur Ware (bass), Louis Hayes (drums) – through four originals and two standards, balancing the selections between swinging bop and reflective ballads. There are traces of Bud Powell in Clark's style, but he's beginning to come into his own, developing a style that's alternately edgy and charmingly relaxed. Mobley, Farmer and Fuller have their moments, but Clark steals the show in this set of fine, straight-ahead bop.

Sonny Clark - Oakland, 1955 (1995) {Uptown Records UPCD 27.40}
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© 1955, 1995 Uptown Records | UPCD 27.40
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Piano

The first officially recorded date from an ensemble led by the brilliant jazz pianist Sonny Clark is an interesting prelude to his subsequent classic efforts for the Blue Note label. After leaving his home near Pittsburgh, moving to Los Angeles and finishing work as a sideman with Wardell Gray, Oscar Pettiford, and Buddy DeFranco, Clark lived in the Northern California Bay area of San Francisco, and led this obscure trio of bassist Jerry Good and drummer Al Randall. Recorded in performance at the Mocambo Club in Oakland in mid-January 1955, it is an historical document for fans of Clark who might want to hear the pianist at a time when he was happy – not doing the drugs that destroyed his life and career – and in a freewheeling mood playing standards.

Grant Green - The Complete Quartets With Sonny Clark (1961-1962) {2CD Blue Note SBM Remaster rel 1997}
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© 1961-62, 1997 Blue Note / Capitol | CDP 7243 8 57194 2 4
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Guitar

THE COMPLETE QUARTETS WITH SONNY CLARK includes the albums NIGERIA, GOODEN'S CORNER and OLEO as well as 3 additional tracks. This two-disc set gathers together the cuts for three Blue Note sessions teaming Grant Green with Sonny Clark. The first, NIGERIA, was originally release posthumously in 1980 and features Green's only collaboration with drummer Art Blakey. GOODEN'S CORNER and OLEO were both only released in Japan in 1979 and 1980, respectively. The latter two sessions featured Louis Hayes on drums along with Sam Jones, the bassist for all three albums. Luckily these sessions have been carefully restored and release for all to hear.

Sonny Clark Trio - The 45 Sessions (1958) {Blue Note Japan TOCJ-1617 rel 1996}
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© 1957-58, 1996 Blue Note / Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCJ-1618
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Jazz Piano Trio

Producer's Notes: 'This album features three powerful alternate takes from the original Trio album with Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones and a session of standards with future Jazz Messenger Jymie Merrit [sic] on bass and Wes Landers. The second session was issued at the time on 45 singles, but not LP.' by Michael Cuscuna.

This double disc reissue on Blue Note contains the three releases that alto saxophonist Sonny Criss did for Imperial: Jazz U.S.A., Go Man!, and Plays Cole Porter. These sessions were all recorded in 1956 at a time when Criss had honed his amazing bebop alto precision. These 34 performances contain only five of his originals and are surrounded by mainly standards. The bands consisted of solid lineups with Sonny Clark or Kenny Drew on piano; Barney Kessel on guitar; Leroy Vinnegar, Buddy Clark or Bill Woodson on bass; Larry Bunker on vibes; and Larance Marable or Chuck Thompson taking care of drumming duties. While Criss had a career that erratically spanned the '70s, these Imperial sessions (reissued in glorious mono) contained highly regarded performances of passionate blues, moving ballads, and energetic up-tempo pieces.

A new phase in Sonny Rollins' career began in 1957. He started what was at the time an almost blasphemous trend of recording for a number of different labels. His pioneering spirit yielded a few genre-defining albums, including this disc. His performances were also at a peak during 1957 as Down Beat magazine proclaimed him the Critics' Poll winner under the category of "New Star" of the tenor saxophone. This newfound freedom can be heard throughout the innovations on The Sound of Sonny. Not only are Rollins' fluid solos reaching newly obtained zeniths of melodic brilliance, but he has also begun experimenting with alterations in the personnel from tune to tune. Most evident on this platter is "The Last Time I Saw Paris" - which is piano-less - and most stunning of all is Rollins' unaccompanied tenor solo performance on "It Could Happen to You"…

A new phase in Sonny Rollins' career began in 1957. He started what was at the time an almost blasphemous trend of recording for a number of different labels. His pioneering spirit yielded a few genre-defining albums, including this disc. His performances were also at a peak during 1957 as Down Beat magazine proclaimed him the Critics' Poll winner under the category of "New Star" of the tenor saxophone. This newfound freedom can be heard throughout the innovations on The Sound of Sonny. Not only are Rollins' fluid solos reaching newly obtained zeniths of melodic brilliance, but he has also begun experimenting with alterations in the personnel from tune to tune. Most evident on this platter is "The Last Time I Saw Paris" - which is piano-less - and most stunning of all is Rollins' unaccompanied tenor solo performance on "It Could Happen to You"…

Sonny Criss - Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter (1956) {Toshiba-EMI TOCJ-6869 24-bit}
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© 1956, 2006 Imperial Records / Toshiba-EMI | TOCJ-6869 | 24bit remastering
Jazz / Hard Bop / Bop / Saxophone

Sonny Criss plays Cole Porter – and the results are way greater than the sum of the parts – even though those parts are already pretty darn great! Criss' alto sax has a superb tone at this time – razor-sharp, and nicely crisp – yet still filled with warmth that sets it apart from some of his more modern contemporaries – a beautiful balance that really illuminates these tunes, and has you thinking of them as fresh Criss compositions, not older Porter standards. The instrumentation is quite fresh, too – thanks to the addition of Larry Bunker on vibes, which is a really nice surprise – and piano by Sonny Clark and Jimmy Bunn. The great Lawrence Marable plays drums – and titles include "I Love You", "Easy To Love", "Night & Day", and "Love For Sale".