Artist:Sonny Simmons
Song:Theme For Linda
Album:Ancient Ritual
The 1994 CD Ancient Ritual was a big comeback for 1960s avant garde alto sax player Sonny Simmons after disappearing for a couple of decades. He was born Aug. 4, 1933 in Sicily Island, LA. but grew up in Oakland, CA. He took up alto sax at age 16 and got started playing in bands led by R & B singers Lowell Fulsom & Amos Milburn. He toured with Charles Mingus in 1961 and then formed a band with flutist Prince Lasha. 1n 1965, he married trumpeter Barbara Donald and they recorded several experimental jazz LPs for ESP Records. But by the mid-70s, Simmons marriage ended and he dropped out of the music business. Supposedly he was even playing in the streets of Oakland. He rarely recorded so he wasn't able to make a complete comeback until signing with Quincy Jones' Qwest label. The excellent Ancient Ritual was the result and it features his son Zarak Simmons on drums and Charnett Moffett on bass. Even mainstream jazz fans who normally wouldn't like Simmons will enjoy this. In 1996, he got together with reed player Michael Marcus for the 1996 CD Transcendence. Marcus plays a lot of different reed instruments a la Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The two formed the group The Cosmosamatics in 2000 and have recorded several free jazz CDs for Boxholder Records. I'm not sure of their status as Boxholder seems to be out of business. Sonny Simmons continues to experiment with the boundaries of jazz at age 73. His 60s albums are worth checking out. I couldn't find any video footage.
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