Sonny Simmons

Last man standing, 2007

www.sonnysimmons.org

I'll see you when you get there, 2006

Sonny Simmons is without a doubt one of the 5-6 most exiting alto saxophonists ever to play jazz, and he still is, at the age of 72! His highly original style is a natural extension of the styles of Charlie Parker and Eric Dolphy.

His legendary and groundbreaking albums on the "ESP" and "Contemporary" labels from the 60/70s feature such artists as: Prince Lasha/Gary Peacok/Elvin Jones/Cifford Jarvis/Billie Higgins/Charles Moffet/Mccoy Tyner/Lonnie Liston Smith/Joe Bonner/Gary Peacock/Jimmy Garrison/Buster Williams/Richard Davis/Reggie Workman/Cecil Mcbee/Herbie Lewis/Charnett Moffet/Michael White/Bobby Hutcherson.

Sonny Simmons is a true original and on this second album in his trilogy for Jazzaway Records he is featured in different duet settings exploring everything from the Blues to the avant-garde and beyond. Also featuring Mats Eilertsen (bass), Anders Aarum (piano) and Ole-Thomas Kolberg (drums).

The Traveler, 2005

Simmons has been in Norway in 2005 and recorded several sessions together with some of the most exciting and experienced young Norwegian jazz artists.

The Traveller is the first album in a trilogy by Sonny Simmons on Jazzaway Records. It also features piano player Anders Aarum, bassist Mats Eilertsen and drummer Ole Thomas Kolberg.

They are all performing superbly troughout this session composed and conducted by Vidar Johansen who also plays the flute parts.

Johansens compositions for string quartet + rythm section are modern, fresh and exciting, and does not have the sweet/mellow atmosphere usually assosiated with the mix of jazz and strings. The album features an elite classical string quartet from Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra/ Kringkastningsorkesteret.

The Traveller is the result of Sonnys desire to do something he had never done before, to be recorded with strings. This is also the firs time he is doing a record not playing his own original compositions (except for some old "standars" recorded in the past).