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Credits

Sonny Simmons : alto sax, cor anglais. Michael Marcus : tenor sax, b-flat clarinet. Peter Herbert : bass. Art Lewis : drums.

Rec. nov.06 in Krakow.
Produced by Michael Marcus.

Order at Nottwo.com

The Cosmosamatic's 8th album available on Not Two!

"[...] One of the things that makes this one special is the appearance of Peter Herbert, one of the under-recognized contrabassists who makes consistently superb solo, duo and bass ensemble discs. The first thing we hear on this disc is an eruption of bowed bass and powerful drums. When the two saxes come in, we enter free/jazz heaven with an explosion of wailing spirits. The next piece is Sonny's "Afro Funk" and it couldn't be more different. It does have a sly somewhat funky groove with a great blend of English horn (oboe-like) and clarinet. Both reed players take great, laid back solos together and apart. The vibe is a sort of middle-eastern one. "Janet's Moods" features some strong yet bent harmonies for the reeds and poignant solos for the alto sax and tenor sax with Peter strumming his bass sublimely behind them. You can tell that Sonny and Michael have been playing, touring and recording, for quite a while since there is a special magic that bonds their playing, a sympathetic vibration that blends the sound of both of their reeds into a perfect combination of inspired spirits. They often solo simultaneously, yet never get in each others way. Michael's "Morning Daffodil" has a lovely melody and is a most touching ballad-like song with a wonderful, Trane-like tenor solo by Michael. This great disc ends with another intense, fast and furious freer piece called "The Polish Rally," that brings this release to a masterful conclusion. It doesn't get much better than this!"

Bruce Lee Gallanter at Downtown Music Gallery.

"This group has fortunately been documented quite a few times on record, and consequently this disc offers insight into an ongoing affair. The front line of woodwind multi-instrumentalists Sonny Simmons and Michael Marcus has now not only established the kind of rapport Simmons used to have with Prince Lasha forty odd years ago, but also moved beyond it, which is just as it should be.

[...] The sly funk of Simmons's “Afro Funk” proves there's more to this group than all out blowing. The composer's English horn is an instrument he's made his own in this area of the music and its keening edge provides a nice contrast with Marcus's John Carter-influenced Bb clarinet. Again the two men converse over the rhythmic backdrop for a while before Simmons solos and the overall effect is happily that of four men in thrall to the greater idea that the music inevitably is.

The same funk applies to Marcus's “May-Lee-High-Young.” Down home in terms of rhythmic contours, Simmons puts in some of his most effective work on this one, showing how much he's absorbed the Ornette Coleman strand and refined it to the point where his is the voice that emerges at the expense of all others. Marcus's tenor sax here is garrulous without being overbearing, not least because he too has long since arrived at the point of personal expression, which is just as it should be.

In such company, Marcus's “Morning Daffodil” has an elegiac air about it, which fulfills the promise of the title. Lewis employs brushes in a manner which brings out the innate beauty of the reeds mens' lines and Marcus shows, in no uncertain terms, how his appreciation of the tradition goes back decades. Again the balance between form preconceived and form spontaneous is finely struck and the results are compelling."

Nic Jones at AllAboutJazz

What more can we say?

Credits

Sonny Simmons : alto sax, cor anglais.

Rec. aug.06 in Romainville, dec.06 and march 07 in Paris.
Produced by Sonny Simmons.

Order

The Sonny Simmons Solo Series

"I didn't know I had this feminine creature inside of me." Is this the romantic side of Sonny Simmons? The bulk of Ecstatic Nostalgia, our first volume of solo performances, was recorded at the now defunct Galerie Apnée in the old and colourful Mouffetard neighbourhood in Paris, and at Bruno Grégoire's home in Romainville earlier in 2006. Here's Sonny Simmons in a relaxed mood, writing love poems on the spur of a delightful morning. From the meditative gentleness of "Ode to Thelonious Monk" to the 25th century blues of "Blues For Everyday Life", through the sinuous "Exotic Study" or the audacious reconstruction of "My Favorite Things" which propels Coltrane and Bismillah Khan in a new dimension, scholars, fans and casual listeners as well are given the best of Sonny Simmons solo since the long gone masterpiece Out Into The Andromeda.

Sonny Simmons comments: "Ideas make a civilization of music". Our second volume of solo performances, Fourth Dimension, brings forth the complex and brilliant horn algebra which made Simmons famous in the free jazz era. Fourth Dimension is indeed music conceived as out of our physical universe. Sonny Simmons unfolds a new world of music to explore, in a bright manner already exemplified by two points of reference in solo improvisation, Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell. Here Sonny's peculiar, meditative cor anglais, his explosive and mathematical alto sax create a unique language, which can only be described as jazz's babylonian ancestor, or one of the music's future development, - not today's jazz, nor its immediate past, nor its immediate future. Listen, and learn.

Credits

Sonny Simmons : alto sax, English horn. Anders Aarum : piano. Mats Eilertsen : bass. Torstein Lofthus, Ole-Thomas Kolberg : drums.

Rec. dec.04, march 05, apr.05 in Oslo.
Produced by Jon Klette.

Listening to samples + electronic downloads

Third album in Jon Klette's 'Trilogy'

"On this third and final album in the trilogy Sonny is performing in a classic jazz quartet setting playing his original compositions backed by the very competent musicians who were featured on his two previous albums for Jazzaway Records...

"I sincerely hope you enjoy this exciting album that has been a pleasure to produce and I would like to thank Sonny Simmons for his great musical contributions both before... Now... And in the future!"

Jon Klette

Back to the classic format: saxophone, piano, bass, drums. The sound is warm and mellow but, where The Traveller was a crisp delivery and Live at Haugesund retained a grand air of melancholia, Last Man Standing's majestic arrangements and compositions (all Sonny's, bar the live favorite "Tenderly") are of a darker tone and feel than usual. Producer Jon Klette's design is now fully revelealed: The Traveller's strings were atmospheric, I'll See You...'s duets were catchy, Last Man Standing's sombre elation is an awe-inspiring climax in Sonny Simmons' career. More clearly than on Myxolydis the rhythm section is hunting in Coltrane's garden ("Call to Order" might be penned exemplary: from the slow introduction, reminiscent of "Alabama", it builds into a beautiful hypnotic groove), but at the same time sounds so unminstakeably european: Aarum, Eilertsen and Kolberg cut loose with the groove when Sonny's mood gets introspective, and the lavish hard-bop takes a surprising, chamber music-like turn. This is it, really: Sonny Simmons' first european album, in the truest sense of the term, the jazz roots becoming one with memories of Berlin, Vienna, Paris, 19th century grey and white architecture...

Credits

Sonny Simmons : English horn, alto sax, voice. Bruno Grégoire : poetry, reading. Anne Segal : reading.

Rec. aug. 06 in Romainville, France.
Produced by Sonny Simmons and Bruno Grégoire.

Ordering / commandes

NEW ROOTS?

This is a sound Sonny Simmons has kept in his mind for almost a lifetime. This exceptional double CD captures Sonny, mostly on English horn, with french poet Bruno Grégoire. This is not the first time that "jazz meets poetry". But this is not exactly jazz, and this is not exactly poetry. Nothing can really describe this project: conceived as a complete two-hours piece, it takes you to the roots of Sonny's musical vision, black music from the borders of the Niles to the borders of Mississipi, while Bruno Grégoire and Anne Segal draw vivid pictures of other faraway lands, another existence in the - maybe - lost fatherlands.

Non french-speaking listeners shouldn't be deterred from exploring these sound landscapes: Sonny delivers here one of his most haunting solo experiment ever, the four-part, 43 minutes long Anciens Souvenirs, composed for the English horn. One of the many reasons this record will stand as one of the pivotal albums recorded by Simmons over a course of 40 years.

The first edition is limited to 60 copies. 2/3rd of the sales go directly to the artists.

From the liner-notes:

"'This is a new day in modern poetry', Sonny asserts. Bruno Grégoire is another underrated artist. 'He's not reading like a machine, he’s my rhythm section and my improvisation is flowing freely. You have to know the exact science of words as you have to know the exact science of sound.' Bruno Grégoire writes pictures, you can see, you can smell, and at the same time style is so prevalent, that you can hear stories even if you’re not a French-speaking listener. The merging of jazz and poetry has been tried so many times - successfully. Here Bruno and Sonny have spontaneously brought something different. They’ve gotten rid of the particulars of both, to define an idiom of their own - a different trip. [...] We have managed to capture an experience that could have went uncaptured, a fortuitous meeting: nothing was planned, no manifesto will be issued, and Fatherlands will never be duplicated. A collision. The French poet of the post-surrealistic breed, traveller of sorts, Saint-John Perse of our times (would Saint-John Perse have known about dire straits, addiction and love asunder); the American master musician, the black man who took Parker and Trane to the Ancient East."

Credits

Dr. Robert Stewart : tenor sax. Sonny Simmons : alto sax. Ark Sano : piano. Jeff Littleton : bass. Don Littleton : drums.

Rec. sept. 99 in LA.
Produced by Robert Stewart.

Visit Armageddon store.

A TRIBUTE TO COLTRANE BY DR. ROBERT STEWART - GUEST ARTIST, SONNY SIMMONS

An unexpected and most pleasant surprise: Sonny Simmons caught live on a burning tribute to the Prophet. Thanks to Dr. Robert Stewart, a young Oakland homeboy with an amazing pedigree (notable records with Billy Higgins, Ed Kelly, the Marsalis, appearances with - just everybody, from Dizzy Gillespie to McCoy Tyner via Benny Golson, Pharoah Sanders, Max Roach, check his website...), this seminal gig at the Museum of Contemporary Art in LA is revived on CD.

They're "cooking", and "that's a bag we like to hear Sonny in", like they say in old-time liner-notes. Renditions of A Love Supreme, Impressions and Equinox at parkerian speed (of light), sheer brilliancy from both soloists - if you ever wondered where Sonny comes from, it's all there. There was a time when saxophone was supposed to sound like that, a rhythm section that efficient, and John Coltrane's writing is the perfect vehicle for that kind of advanced hard bop. Once you get to the point that you can emulate him, but will never be as good as he was, and never reach the heights of the classic quartet, you still have plenty to explore in his music - hence this fierce, humble and heartfelt hommage.

These are a few of our favorite things!

Credits

Sonny Simmons : alto sax, voice. Cameron Brown : bass. Ronnie Burrage : drums.

Rec. may 01 in NYC.
Produced by Jan Ström.

Visit Ayler records.

(NOW) HISTORICAL DOCUMENT ON AYLER RECORDS!!

Sonny Simmons + Ayler records. The equation rings a bell. As far as free-jazz is concerned, most of Jan Ström's releases will remain as uncompromising statements. This one is a most uncompromising statement...

Wait a minute. Another live record? True. The past fifteen years have seen (so) many of them. Why is this one so special? Well, Live at Knitting Factory brings back to life a truly undocumented aspect of Sonny Simmons, the outstanding performer: his trio settings. Obviously. If you ever had the chance to catch him live, that was most probably with a trio. The formula was preserved in the studio on Ancient Ritual. Period. Arhoolie's Live - In Paris was too exceptional an occasion (the fuss surrounding his come-back), and the record is marred by sometimes indifferent sound. Ever since then, Sonny has led myriads of sax+bass+drums groups, an easy to deal with presentation that perfectly suits his playing.

At last we get a testimony of his command of this difficult artform. Live at Knitting Factory is plainly and simply how Sonny Simmons sounds like, caught live. It's typical. Back in 2001, he was more and more seeking abruptness, conciseness (his pairing with Michael Marcus in the Cosmosamatics, much better documented, almost aims at the opposite direction: developping one single idea, chewing it, until it reaches a stage of completion), through (sometimes deceivingly) short sets featuring no more than two themes. Here we get two of his all-time classics, so to say: Trumpet Ship and Reverend Church (a slightly different take at Ancient Ritual). The basic, constitutive features of his vision are here: constant groove, entertainment (humorous rap), clarity. If only for these aesthetical reasons... get that nuclear bomb!

Credits

Sonny Simmons : alto sax, English horn. Svein Olav Herstad : piano. Harald Johnsen : bass. Per Oddvar Johansen : drums.

Rec. aug. 05 in Silda.
Produced by Jon Klette.

Visit http://www.jazzaway.com/ and http://www.jazzaway.musiconline.no/ for more info.

JAZZAWAY PRESENTS NORWEGIAN PIANIST SVEIN OLAV HERSTAD'S "SUITE FOR SIMMONS"

Live at Haugesund International Jazzfestival 2005 presents the lavish Svein Olav Herstad Trio (SOH : piano, Harald Johnsen : bass, Per Oddvar Johansen : drums) featuring Sonny Simmons on alto saxophone and English horn, in a superb "suite" especially written for the occasion.

It is easily the most accesible Sonny Simmons record to date - but by no way a record dealing with easiness. Suite For Simmons demonstrates abilities he hadn't had ANY chance to show and develop before producer Jon Klette had the intelligence had the intelligence to free him from - free music. A step further from The Traveller, Simmons develops a true "group sound" - to his own amazement, as the group he was introduced to in August 2005 was all new to him. But with a pianist who, in his own words, "brings back Bud Powell to life", a very apt rhythm sections layering a smooth cushion of lush melodies, he is now able to let his artistry evolve from the searching, moving, sometimes angry stream of consciousness-like pattern he is known for, to a more static environment, where he can focus on sound, on tones, and be heard as the fantastic performer he is.

The mood is somehow lyrical, with sudden accelerations. Svein Olav Herstad's composition goes through varied paths, whether his unit lays down almost angular themes that will sound very familiar to the fans (Part 3 with it's English horn driven vamp), or helps him unleash his instinctful fondness for scorching ballads. Once again, producer Jon Klette brings fresh air in Simmons' discography, succeeding in capturing his true sound while putting him in a context that will both surprise and satisfy all of those still following this ever-growing artist.

Credits

Sonny Simmons : alto sax. Richard Clements : piano. Freddie Williams : bass. Larry Hancock, Irvin Lovilette : drums.

Rec. 1980 in Olympia and San Francisco.

Order

SECOND ARCHIVAL RELEASE AVAILABLE ON HW!

This is the music Sonny Simmons wants you to hear. Nobody got interested in it at the times though, according to Sonny, the Richard Clements/Larry Hancock/Freddie Williams aggregation as pictured on CD 2 was his best quartet ever. Within a mere six months the group developed his own bland of hard-swinging post-bop and underlying sonic mayhem reminiscent of Coltrane's classic quartet. - On the other hand, CD 1 captures Sonny in a mood that will come as a great surprise to those only familiar with his "regular" discography: backed by two percussionists, he improvises at length with abrasive intensity. Polyrhythmic grooves, daring, often violent saxophone explorations, this music might as well incarnate what "free-jazz" could/should have been.

We are lucky these tapes survived 26 years of complete oblivion, and proud to present them at last.

Read more...

*85 copies, only 40 available from this website.

Credits

Sonny Simmons : alto sax, English horn. Duets with - Anders Aarum : piano. Mats Eilertsen : bass. Ole-Thomas Kolberg : drums.

Rec. dec. 04, jan. & mar. 05 in Oslo.
Produced by Jon Klette.

Visit http://www.jazzaway.com/ and http://www.jazzaway.musiconline.no/ for more info.

SECOND COLLECTION OF FRESH SONNY SIMMONS RECORDINGS AVAILABLE ON JAZZAWAY RECORDS

It's HERE. Sonny is caught duetting with members of the very astute group previously featured on The Traveller.

If I'll See You When You Get There will sound familiar to the dedicated followers of Sonny Simmons, it might come as a bit of a surprise to the others. Our man is known to excel in the duet form on stage, but his recorded body of works hasn't provided much to prove it, whereas his discography is paved with absolutely brilliant testimonies of his solo prowess. Besides a fairly good album with Brandon Evans, the (sadly not-yet released) original soundtrack for Jours Tranquilles A Sarajevo (a collaboration with pianist Gilbert Sigrist, who gave a very european, post-Satie feel to typical Simmons schemes like Aboriginal Dance In Scotland) and the outstanding collaboration with Jeff Shurdut, The Future Is Ancient, there are only four evidences, but all of great significance: the legendary Seven Dances Of Salome on Manhattan Egos, featuring the trademark English horn against Juma Sultan's congo drums; another confrontation with the percussions, this time with Charles Moffett, the breathless Lost Village Of Um' Tombey on Transcendence; and, as far as bass-saxophone duets are concerned, two coincidently titled Duet tracks on Global Jungle (with Freddie Williams: free mood) and The Traveller, the latter giving a taste of the material we are now discussing.

I don't know much about Mats Eilertsen (who shares duties on 6 tracks - just to indicate the main color of the album), Anders Aarum and Ole Thomas Kolberg, but for sure Jon Klette is a man of taste: he couldn't have chosen musicians more apt to respond to Sonny, rather than to stick to the sideman's position, merely enhancing the solos. The same interaction caught at work on The Traveller and its multi-layered arrangements is to be found in the bare beauty of the duo context, arguably one of the more challenging contexts in jazz. Wrapped in Klette's lush production, this is Sonny Simmons at its simplest, its most cohesive, a man in complete control of his music, ultimately facing and forcing the young musicians to give their all - revealing in them a cleverness, a lavishness unparalleled.

I'll See You When You Get There features eight originals and two standards intimately related to Sonny Simmons' comprehension of jazz. He has written a very coherent body of new compositions, with the concern of giving a retrospective vision (retrospective does not mean conservative) of his music, a trend initiated with the inclusion of Parker and Dolphy in the Cosmosamatic's répertoire since 2004 and pursued with A True Life Drama. In a sense, I'll See You When You Get There is the long-awaited Best Of Sonny Simmons, but, instead of a sad glance into a dusty museum, you get a fresh approach, new angles, and a sense of direction. The album kicks off with a slow snake-charmer: Ancient City Of Petra, reminiscent of Tales Of The Ancient East and Bizarre Beauty. Mats Eleirtseen's bass blends beautifully with the sinuous, scarce alto lines uttered by the master of ceremony. Most of the record displays meticulous progressions at slow tempo around themes that Sonny has kept churning and churning for years, ballades and end-of-the-evening standards (Tenderly, 'Round Midnight - Sonny, complimented for the magical rendion of the latter, answers in a grin: "I've seen midnights, you dig?"). On most of the tracks Mats Eilertsen infuses a mellowness, lays pillars of bass for Simmons to draw the listener into an uninterrupted inner conversation (Close Encounters); at the same time he manages to be a second voice and more than often directs the improvisation, throwing Simmons into new ideas and feelings. There is definitely an emphasis on melody, no sing-song, but the roots of bebop as he experienced it in the 40's : a theme you can catch all the better than its treatment will lead you elsewhere. Mellowness doesn't imply that Sonny Simmons has lost his edge. The percussive tracks here are milestones : Fancy Free says all, and Carebian Fiesta and its sunny carribean tropisms is a clear invitation to bodily interaction with the music. Music to dance to, ballads to do what you usually do on ballads, let love flow, this is still Sonny Simmons, a very physical man : only he has subdued the superhuman, aggressive manner of his ESP masterpieces or Burning Spirits, leaving us with a cooperative, rather than confrontational, energy, well reflected by his fellow duelists. And this is why this record will sound both familiar and surprising.

Credits

Sonny Simmons : alto sax.

Rec. oct. 01 in Rive De Gier, France.

Order

FIRST ARCHIVAL RELEASE AVAILABLE ON HW!

Hello World ! brings back to the world Sonny Simmons' musical treasures. We have unearthed piles of historical tapes and will make every efforts to regularly provide you with exclusive CD-R limited editions, properly mastered and packaged. Make sure to get them as long as they last! And thanks for supporting Sonny Simmons' works. 2/3rds of the benefits go directly to the artist.

It seemed obvious that our first project would pay homage to the genius performer. This solo tour-de-force on alto sax features a medley of two Simmons classics, Title X and Music Matador - yes, the very tune that propelled him into the history of jazz one night in July of 1963, locked in a New York studio with Eric Dolphy, Prince Lasha, Woody Shaw, Clifford Jordan, Bobby Hutcherson and Charles Moffett!

Read more...

Credits

Bert Wilson : tenor saxophone. Sonny Simmons : alto saxophone. Barbara Donald : trumpet. Bobby Addison : guitar. John Neuman : bass. Smiley Winters, Bobby Natanson : drums.

Rec. sept. 71 in Berkeley.

Visit http://www.bertwilson.com/ for more info or e-mail to smojazz@earthlink.net.

NEW ALBUM AVAILABLE ON FMO RECORDS

................................

Forthcoming :

Jon Klette is announcing two more records on his exciting norwegian label Jazzaway :

- March 2006 : I'LL SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET THERE, volume 2 of the trilogy started with THE TRAVELLER ;

- June 2006 : SVEIN OLAV HERSTAD TRIO FEATURING SONNY SIMMONS live at sildajazz 2005.

We are waiting most impatiently, Jon...

December 2005 : FIRST DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE AT www.sonnysimmons.org

Check out the Archives section for exclusive music!

LIVE AT RIVE DE GIER Rhino Jazz Festival, October 17, 2001 A stunning solo performance, available for a limited period. All benefits go to Mr. Simmons. Read more...

A TRUE LIFE DRAMA Collected Performances, Words and Poems, December 2005 Inside Sonny Simmons: first solo recordings ever on English horn; exclusive poetry; fireside conversations; live standards... Read more...

November 2005 : ZEBULON 1

Credits

Sonny Simmons : alto sax, English horn. Blaise Siwula : tenor sax. Daniel Carter : trumpet, alto clarinet. Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut : electric guitar. Robyn Siwula : violin. Adam Lane : bass. Mike Fortune : drums.

Rec. july 05 at Zebulon Club, NYC.

Order it through Cadence.

NEW ALBUM AVAILABLE ON NO LABEL

Another incendiary release in the fine THIS IS THE MUSIC OF LIFE series.

"This music is more African than American Jazz. Each piece is our lives. It can even be described as a Native American Music. The music chants, and is part of a ritual, ceremony, and celebration of our day. Also, the notion of freedom and independence are very different ideas. Classical musicians are Independent and not free. We are free without independence. Each of us needs each other to react with and stand along with to make the music sing. Ironically, 'Alone, Together' is more of a classical idea, musically, than it is jazz. In spirit, if you perform a classical piece and the person drops dead next to you, you can always continue what is written. In this music if the person dies next to you, the music dies with him."

Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut, November 26, 2005

Features a stellar front-line of Sonny Simmons, Daniel Carter and Blaise Siwula ! A must-have for free jazz fans, and a great testimony of the trans-generational vitality of the New York scene.

October 2005 : ZETRONS

Credits

Sonny Simmons : alto sax, English horn. Michael Marcus : tenor sax, Bb clarinet. Maza Kamaguchi : bass. Jay Rosen : drums.

Rec. nov. 04 in Krakow, Amsterdam and Vienna.
Produced by Michael Marcus.

Visit http://www.nottwo.com/ for more info.

NEW ALBUM AVAILABLE ON NOT TWO RECORDS !

The Cosmosamatics are back, and touring Europe to support their new album.

May 2005 : THE TRAVELLER

Credits

Sonny Simmons : alto sax, English horn. Anders Aarum : piano. Mats Eilertsen : bass. Ole-Thomas Kolberg : drums. Vidar Johansen : flute, conductor. Harald Aadland, Bendik Fosse, Kari Ravnan, Eyleen Siegel : string quartet.

Rec. dec. 04, jan. & mar. 05 in Oslo.
Produced by Jon Klette.

Visit http://www.jazzaway.com/ and http://www.jazzaway.musiconline.no/ for more info.

NEW ALBUM AVAILABLE ON JAZZAWAY RECORDS !

The long-awaited new album, The Traveller, is now out on Jazzaway Records. The first volume in a special project produced by Jon Klette (volume 2, Duets, is due for release in February 2006, and volume 3, Last Man Standing, in February 2007), it features Sonny and refined norwegian group, backed by a string quartet.

A welcome departure...

 IN THE PIPE:
>> Sonny and the Triangular Force, feat Gildas Scouarnec, in september;
>> Sonny Simmons and Bobby Few in Portugal in October;
>> "Tribute to Eric Dolphy" in association with Spirit of Jazz, October 27 at the Sorbonne university in Paris, all-star band featuring Ted Curson, Richard Davis, Charles Persip and Sonny Simmons;
>> "Radice", workshop in Switzerland with Guy Bettini, from November 7 to 15.
Stay tuned!

 September 2008 : SONNY SIMMONS QUARTET U.K. TOUR!

Sonny Simmons : alto sax, cor anglais
Derek Saw : trumpet, valve trombone
John Jasnoch : guitar, oud
Charlie Collins : drums, cajon

>> THURSDAY 25th SEPTEMBER
"On the Outside"
The Bridge Hotel
Castle Square
Newcastle upon Tyne
8.00pm
£5/4.00

>> FRIDAY 26th SEPTEMBER
"Freenoise"
Bar Abbey
Abbeydale Road
Sheffield
8.00pm
£5/4.00

>> SUNDAY 28th SEPTEMBER
"Frakture"
Magnet Bar
Hardman Street
Liverpool
8.00pm
£4.00

>> WEDNESDAY 1st OCTOBER
The Vortex
11 gillett Square
London N16
8.45pm
£10.00

The last gig (London) will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3's "Jazz on 3"

 June 2008 : SONNY SIMMONS AND BOBBY FEW AT THE VISION FESTIVAL! + PHILLY GIG

>> Friday, June 13th at 8:30 pm.

That's gorgeous news. Thanks to William and Patricia Parker! It should coincide with the release of Live at l'Atelier Tampon-Ramier, a double album on Hello World!.

More about the event...

>> Friday, June 14th at 8 pm, Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th Street. More...

May 2008 : THE COSMOSAMATICS - SHORT VISIT TO PARIS...

>> FRANCE: Paris, Samedi 3 mai à 20h30, l'Atelier Tampon, 14 rue Jules Vallès (métro Charonne ou Faidherbe-Chaligny).

>> FRANCE: Paris, Samedi 10 mai à 20h, librairie Apsara, 44 rue Daguerre (métro et RER Denfert-Rochereau).

Sonny Simmons: alto saxophone, cor anglais; Michael Marcus: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Jay Rosen: drums + guests!

La formule originale des Cosmosamatics pour une visite rare ! Le nouvel album sur Nottwo, Free Within The Law, est enfin annoncé : l'occasion de trouver une copie...

 December 2007 : FREENOISE FEST., UK + SONNY SIMMONS TRIO feat. PAUL HESSION

>> UK: Sheffield, Friday, December 21, Freenoise Freaction Fest (w/ DerekSaw, trumpet; John Jasnoch, electric guitar; Charlie Collins, drums)

===========================================================
TICKETS NOW ON SALE for the greatest all day free noise fest in the UK
this year!
TEN HOURS OF MIND BLOWING NOISE AND FUN!!!

*SONNY SIMMONS TRIO!!!*
Z'EV!
AUFGEHOBEN!
THE OTHER ORCHESTRA!
KREEPA!
BLACK CARROT!
JESUS IS ANGRY!
PROF. ADRIAN MOORE!
HONEY RIDE ME A GOAT!
FILTHY TURD!
IRON FIST OF THE SUN!

+ Film Launch & Screening: 'Freenoise - The Sound of Sheffield'!
Hi-end Live Visuals from ANTIMONY / DJ / surprise acts / giveaways..
You will not do a better gig this Xmas fer sure!!

*The Abbeydale.* A621, Sheffield. The North's favorite new venue!
*Friday Dec 21st. 2 - 12pm.* Big bar! Big PA! Excellent speakeasy vibe.
Secure car park. Bus stop right outside (75 / 76 / 25 / 97 etc.)

£10 / £9 adv. £12 door.
TICKETS SELLING FAST NOW!
On foot - Rare and Racy, Division St. Sheffield.
On line - http://www.wegottickets.com/event/23240

>> UK: Sheffield, Saturday, December 22, Leeds, Seven Artspace (w/ Paul Hession, drums; David Kane, bass; Richard Omrod, tenor saxophone)

November 2007 : SOLO

>> FRANCE: Mardi 27 novembre à PARIS à 20 heures à la librairie Apsara, 44 rue Daguerre (métro et RER Denfert-Rochereau). Avec tous nos plus chaleureux remerciements à Stéphane...

November 2007 : TIGHT MEAT with SONNY SIMMONS, UK TOUR 2007

>> UK: London, Monday, November 19, The Red Rose Comedy Club (w/Jookloo Duo): The Wire 25th Anniversary Festival

>> UK: Bristol, Thuesday, November 20, The Cube Cinema (w/Jooklo Duo)

>> UK: Cambridge, Wednedsay, November 21, The Portland Arms (w/Jooklo Duo)

>> UK: Newcastle, Thursday, November 22, Retreat, Crawhall Road (w/Jookloo Duo, Axolotl, Mark Morgan)
>> UK: Glasgow, Friday, November 23, CCA (w/Jooklo Duo, Axolotl, Mark Morgan, Nackt Insecten, Family Battlesnake, Usurper)

Tight Meat is: David Keenan, saxophone; George Lyle, bass; Alex Neilson, drums.

 

November 2007 : SUNNY MURRAY'S NEW CHANGE OF THE CENTURY ORCHESTRA

>> LUXEMBOURG: Dudelange, Sat., November 17, Centre Culturel Régional.

Sunny Murray; Tony Bevan; John Edwards; Bobby Few; Henry Grimes; Khan Jamal; Sabir Mateen; Grachan Moncur III; Odean Pope; Richard Raux; Sonny Simmons; Monnette Sudler.

The event will be filmed as part of the undergoing documentary on Sunny Murray, Sunny's time now and recorded by Eremite records.

November 2007 : EVEN MORE TRIANGULAR FORCE

>> FRANCE: Lundi 12 novembre à PARIS à 20 heures au Zango Bar, 58 rue Daguerre (métro et RER Denfert-Rochereau) avec Gildas SCOUARNEC à la basse et Jean-Luc ROUMIER à la guitare.

November 2007 : SONNY SIMMONS - BOBBY FEW DUET

>> FRANCE: Paris, Samedi 10 novembre à 20h30, l'Atelier Tampon, 14 rue Jules Vallès (métro Charonne ou Faidherbe-Chaligny).

Sonny Simmons: alto saxophone, cor anglais; Bobby Few: piano.

First time ever! Une grande première... Public recording.

August 2007 : CRIMETIME ORCHESTRA FEAT. SONNY SIMMONS

>> NORWAY: Oslo, August 16, 8pm, Cosmopolite.

Special performance of Jon Klette and Vidar Johansen's Crimetime Orchestra with Sonny Simmons and NRK Radio Symphony Orchestra for the Oslo International Jazzfestival.

April 2007 : LAUNCHING OF "LAST MAN STANDING" IN OSLO

>> NORWAY: Oslo, April 26, 8pm.

PRESS RELEASE FROM JAZZAWAY RECORDS:

29 avr. 2007, 20:00
Møllergata, Oslo, 0174

JAZZAWAY RECORDS labelnight at the BELLEVILLE club featuring 2 exiting releaseconcerts.. We celebrate the release of Master guitarplayer/singer NILS OLAV JOHANSEN`s LONG AWAITED solo debut on Jazzaway records called `MY DEAL`........ We also celebrate the release of the 3rd album by the legendary american saxophonist SONNY SIMMONS`s trilogy for Jazzaway records called `LAST MAN STANDING`.. HE IS VISITING NORWAY FOR THIS OCCASION ONLY!! Additional musicians featured in the two bands are: Mats Eilertsen (bs), Ole Thomas Kolberg (dr), Anders Aarum (p/elpiano), Andreas Bye (dr).+ guests..

March 2007 : THE SUNNY MURRAY 5TET

>> FRANCE: Mardi 29 mars à PARIS à 20h30 à l'Atelier Tampon, 14 rue Jules Vallès (métro Charonne ou Faidherbe-Chaligny) : Sunny MURRAY, batterie ; Sonny SIMMONS, saxophone alto ; Richard RAUX, saxophone ténor ; Bobby FEW, piano ; Harry SWIFT, basse.

The event will be filmed as part of the undergoing documentary on Sunny Murray, Sunny's time now.

February 2007 : MORE TRIANGULAR FORCE...

>> FRANCE: Jeudi 15 février à PARIS à 20 heures au Zango Bar, 58 rue Daguerre (métro et RER Denfert-Rochereau) avec Gildas SCOUARNEC à la basse et Jeff RYAN à la guitare.

December 2006 : SOLO

>> FRANCE: Samedi 23 décembre à 17h, bar-restaurant Le Quinze, 15 rue Roger, 75014 - Tél. 01 43 22 77 52.

November 2006 : THE TRIANGULAR FORCE

>> FRANCE: Mardi 21 novembre à BREST à 21 heures à l'Hôtel Vauban (17, rue Clémenceau). The Triangular Force: Sonny SIMMONS, saxophone alto et cor anglais ; Jean-Luc ROUMIER, guitare ; Gildas SCOUARNEC, contrebasse. Le concert sera prcédé à 19h d'une projection du film de François Lunel, Together with Sonny Simmons.   >> FRANCE: Jeudi 2 novembre à PARIS à 22 heures au Zango Bar, 58 rue Daguerre (métro et RER Denfert-Rochereau) avec Gildas SCOUARNEC à la basse et Jean-Luc ROUMIER à la guitare.

September-October 2006 : THE COSMOSAMATICS IN EUROPE

>> FRANCE: Jeudi 28 septembre à PARIS au Sunset.

>> POLAND: Thuesday, October 2^nd at Alchemia.

Summer 2006 : SIMMONS vs. HANDY

>> Message from Mr. Simmons :

"Attention: big shoot-out between John Handy the Third and Sonny Simmons the First in Oakland this summer at Yoshi's. Everybody comes down to witness the two great saxophone players. Shoot it out !

Respectfully yours,

Sonny Simmons."

April 2006 : THE ZQ3 TRIO

>> NYC: Saturday, April 1^st at HELL'S KITCHEN CULTURAL CENTER, 9 pm.

Three day music festival, RHYTHM IN THE KITCHEN.

First appearance of Sonny Simmons' new group, the ZQ3 Trio.

Sonny Simmons: alto sax, English horn.
Don Pate: bass.
Victor Jones: drums.

Hell's Kitchen Cultural Center
410 W.40th
New York City
Metro Baptist Church

For more information: 212.675.7197 / 646.206.208, abrajazzbra@aol.com

 

December 2005 gigs

>> FRANCE: Jeudi 8 Décembre à LYON. Performance solo.

Renseignements : Le Bistrot de Vaise, Place des Tanneurs (métro Valmy), LYON 9. Tél.: 04 78 64 66 21.

Jean-Philippe Ramos who sat in with Sonny that particular night (recorded for A True Life Drama) has some fine pictures on his own website : please check http://perso.wanadoo.fr/eijanaika/jean-philippe_fichiers/photos.html.

          

 

>> NYC: Wednesday, December 28^th at TONIC. Visit http://www.tonicnyc.com/ for more info.

Jeff Shurdut - THIS IS THE MUSIC OF LIFE presents DANIEL CARTER'S 60^th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION featuring :

Daniel Carter - Sonny Simmons - Bern Nix - Adam Lane - Andrew Barker - Mike Fortune - Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut.

 

October-November 2005 : THE COSMOSAMATICS ON TOUR IN EUROPE

The Cosmosamatics (Sonny Simmons, Michael Marcus, Gildas Scouarnec, Clifford Barbaro) are touring Europe to support their new album Zetrons.
Be sure to check them if they're in Town ! Here's a temporary list of gigs :

Date	Country	City	Venue	Time	Contact
October 31	France	Paris	Sunset Club	21:00	http://www.sunset-sunside.com/
November 2	Czech Rep.	Prague	Baracnicka Rychta	20:00	http://www.baracnickarychta.cz/
November 8, 9, 10	Poland	Krakow	Alchemia	19:30	http://www.alchemia.com.pl/
November 17	UK First time ever in UK !	Newcastle	Caedmon Hall, Central Library	20:00	www.gateshead.gov.uk/caedmon
November 18	UK	London	Pizza Express	19:30 and 22:00  Broadcast at 23:30 on BBC radio3.	http://www.pizzaexpress.co.uk/
November 21 Cancelled.	Czech Rep.	Prague	Reduta Jazz Club	21:00	http://www.redutajazzclub.cz/
November 23, 24 Cancelled.	Sweden	Stockholm	Glenn Miller Cafe		http://www.glennmillercafe.com/

August 2005 : SONNY IN NORWAY

Sonny is performing at the International Jazzfestival Sildajazz in Haugesund August 10th 2005. Simmons is featured in a commissioned work composed for this year's festival by piano player Svein Olav Herstad.

FRANCE :

Avant-première du film de François Lunel, Together With Sonny Simmons (2005 - 51'24", Promenades Films, Sycomore Films, Images Plus) dans le cadre de la soirée "Brouillon d'un rêve" à la SCAM (5, avenue Velazquez, 75 018 PARIS). Réservations au 01 56 69 58 98.

Tales of Sonny's exile in Paris, 2000-2001. Beautifully shot, the film features unheard music pieces.