Sonny Clark

Sonny Rollins Quartet: Jazz Jamboree video It was beautifully filmed (in color) at the Jazz Jamboree Festival in Warsaw, Poland, during Rollins' first trip behind the Iron Curtain. Sonny Rollins Quartet: Jazz Jamboree film He plays here with his regular group of this period. Sonny Rollins Quartet: Jazz Jamboree review Pianist Mark Soskin and bassist Jerome Harris had first recorded with Sonny in April 1978, when both were professionally recorded live with the saxophonist in San Francisco, as part of a sextet that also included Donald Byrd on trumpet, Tony Williams on drums and Aurell Ray on electric guitar. Also features clips from a San Francisco performance that was also Jerome Harris'first collaboration with Rollins.

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.

Sonny Criss - The Complete Imperial Sessions - 1956 (Connoisseur Series)
EAC Rip | FLAC, Tracks + CUE, LOG | 599 MB | 2CD | MONO | Complete Scans |
Jazz, Hard Bop | Label: Blue Note Records|Year: 1956| Catalog Number: 7243 5 24564 2 0 | RAR 5% Rec. | RS.com, HF.com
Transferred using 24-bit resolution and mastered by Ron McMaster

“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.” AMG

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"…

Imagine, you’re 15 years old living in Memphis, suddenly you move to L.A. and within 4 years you are playing alto sax in the Howard McGhee band with no less a jazz legend than Charlie Parker! Of course, Sonny was heavily influenced by “Bird” but that did not stop him from developing his own bluesy style of playing. It also did not stop him from drifting around the country playing in various R’n’B and jazz bands led by the likes of Johnny Otis, Stan Kenton and Billy Eckstine. Finally signed to R’n’B label Imperial in 1956, Sonny’s first album (and our first selection) Jazz U.S.A was considered “ a true underground classic of the hard bop era”. Musicians joining Sonny on our four selections include, Kenny Drew, Barney Kessel, Sonny Clark, Leroy Vinnegar and Wynton Kelly. Not a bad line up!