Sonny Criss • Mr. Blues Pour Flirter

Biography by Thom Jurek

Alto saxophonist William "Sonny" Criss was an anomaly of the jazz musicians who came up during the bebop era. Criss moved to Los Angeles from Memphis at the age of 15, and at 19 played in Howard McGhee's band with Charlie Parker and Teddy Edwards. As was the norm for every alto player, Parker exerted a huge influence on Criss' playing. His beefy, earthy tone can be heard on a number of Savoy sessions beginning the next year. Criss drifted, playing in jazz and R&B groups, including those led by Johnny Otis, Billy Eckstine, and Stan Kenton. After joining Buddy Rich in 1956, Criss recorded Jazz U.S.A. for Imperial as a leader; it's one of the true underground classics of the hard bop era. Imperial -- mainly an R&B label specializing in New Orleans acts such as Fats Domino -- put no promotional push behind it. Nonetheless, he was able to cut two more sessions for the label: the excellent Go Man! and Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter. Still playing with Rich, Criss cut At the Crossroads while on tour in Chicago for the Peacock label; the set featured Wynton Kelly and was critically well received. The saxophonist continued to work, fronting his own band in Los Angeles and gigging with others for brief out-of-town jaunts. He signed with Prestige in 1965 and issued a host of fine recordings, This Is Criss! and Sonny's Dream among them. Criss also cut various sessions for Xanadu, Muse, and ABC/Impulse near the end of his life. He committed suicide in 1977 due to the painful consequences of stomach cancer. His fine Crisscraft and Out of Nowhere albums were reissued on CDs, as were his complete Imperial recordings.

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sonny-criss-mn0000755431/biography

Note of egroj:
Certainly this cover is a clear example of covert racism. Fortunately Blue Note, Prestige and a few other labels changed this story.

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Biografía de Thom Jurek

El saxofonista alto William "Sonny" Criss fue una anomalía de los músicos de jazz que surgieron durante la era del bebop. Criss se mudó a Los Ángeles desde Memphis a los 15 años, y a los 19 tocó en la banda de Howard McGhee con Charlie Parker y Teddy Edwards. Como era la norma para todos los contrabajistas, Parker ejerció una gran influencia en la forma de tocar de Criss. Su tono fuerte y terrenal se puede escuchar en varias sesiones de Savoy a partir del año siguiente. Criss fue a la deriva, tocando en grupos de jazz y R&B, incluyendo los liderados por Johnny Otis, Billy Eckstine y Stan Kenton. Después de unirse a Buddy Rich en 1956, Criss grabó Jazz U.S.A. para Imperial como líder; es uno de los verdaderos clásicos del underground de la era del hard bop. Imperial - principalmente un sello de R&B especializado en actos de Nueva Orleans como Fats Domino - no puso ningún empuje promocional detrás de él. Sin embargo, fue capaz de cortar dos sesiones más para el sello: el excelente Go Man! y Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter. Aún tocando con Rich, Criss cortó At the Crossroads mientras estaba de gira en Chicago para el sello Peacock; el set contó con Wynton Kelly y fue muy bien recibido por la crítica. El saxofonista siguió trabajando, liderando su propia banda en Los Ángeles y actuando con otros para breves salidas fuera de la ciudad. Firmó con Prestige en 1965 y publicó una serie de buenas grabaciones, entre ellas This Is Criss! y Sonny's Dream. Criss también grabó varias sesiones para Xanadu, Muse y ABC/Impulse cerca del final de su vida. Se suicidó en 1977 debido a las dolorosas consecuencias del cáncer de estómago. Sus excelentes álbumes de Crisscraft y Out of Nowhere se reeditaron en CD, así como sus grabaciones completas de Imperial.

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sonny-criss-mn0000755431/biography

Tracklist:
1 - Don't Get Around Much Anymore - 6:15
2 - This Can't Be Love - 3:28
3 - Early And Later Part 1 - 4:22
4 - Early And Later Part 2 - 4:35
5 - Once In A While - 3:39
6 - Saint Louis Blues - 4:59
7 - Day Dream - 4:40
8 - On Green Dolphin Street - 3:26
9 - God Bless The Child - 6:07


Credits:
    Alto Saxophone – Sonny Criss
    Double Bass – Pierre Michelot
    Drums – Philippe Combelle
    Guitar – René Thomas
    Organ – Georges Arvanitas (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6)
    Piano – Georges Arvanitas (tracks: 2, 5, 7 to 9)
    Producer – Bernard De Bosson


Notes:
Recorded 1963 in Paris on April 22 (5, 6, 7), April 23 (1, 3, 4) and April 25 (2, 8, 9).

Label: Gitanes Jazz Productions ‎– 549 231-2
Series: Jazz In Paris – 23
Country: France
Released: 2000
Genre: Jazz, Blues
Style: Bop, Hard Bop

 

 

 

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