Browse by Artist: SIMMONS, SONNY

Artist:	SIMMONS, SONNY
Title:	The Complete ESP-Disk Recordings
Label:	ESP-DISK
Format:	2CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	ESPDISK 4012CD

"Sonny Simmon's Staying on the Watch and Music of the Spheres are important examples of his idiosyncratic genius. With Simmons on alto and the magnificent presence of the late Barbara Donald on trumpet, these two sessions will live long in the historical development of the Free Movement. Features the New York debut of pianist John Hicks, who has gone on to become one of the most requested pianists in jazz, and fellow ESP leader and percussionist James Zitro. After building his chops with numerous West Coast bebop groups, Simmons moved to New York in the early '60s, playing with such luminaries as Eric Dolphy, Elvin Jones and Charles Mingus. These two 1966 sessions mark his first and second as leader, splendidly juxtaposing smooth, crisp modal expressions with all-out free blowing, and post-bop swing with reactive rhythmic exploration. Includes over 25 minutes of new, previously unreleased interviews with Sonny Simmons and Barbara Donald with full, detailed interview transcription in the liner notes. Digitally remastered from the original tapes."

Artist:	SIMMONS, SONNY
Title:	Staying On The Watch
Label:	GET BACK (ITALY)
Format:	LP
Price:	$20.00
Catalog #:	GET 1032

"During the '60s Sonny Simmons was one of the most promising avant-garde players and his debut as a leader, recorded for ESP-Disk' in the summer of 1966, still sounds advanced and powerful over 30 years later. Performing in a quintet with Barbara Donald (trumpet), John Hicks (piano), Teddy Smith (bass) and Marvin Pattillo (drums), altoist Simmons stretches out on mostly free-form original compositions. Original artwork. 180 gram HQ vinyl."

Artist:	SIMMONS, SONNY
Title:	Music From The Spheres
Label:	GET BACK (ITALY)
Format:	LP
Price:	$20.00
Catalog #:	GET 1043

"Alto saxophonist Sonny Simmons was one of the most talented (if unfortunately lesser known) free jazz musicians of the 1960s. Born in Oakland, CA, Simmons began playing alto sax as a teenager in the early '50s and spent his early years collaborating with Prince Lasha and Charles Mingus. Except for a brief stint in New York in the early '60s, where he recorded with Elvin Jones and Eric Dolphy, Simmons spent most of his life in California where he met and married trumpet player Barbara Donald (featured on this album). His Music From the Spheres, recorded for ESP-Disk in 1966, with Michael Cohen on piano, Juney Booth on bass and Jim Zitro on drums, represents one of the highlights of his career. After almost completely disappearing from the jazz scene for nearly 20 years, Simmons made an amazing comeback in the early '90s with his brilliant Ancient Ritual."

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