Sonny Criss

William Criss, Sonny Criss known as ( born October 23, 1927 in Memphis, Tennessee; † 19 November 1977, in Los Angeles, California ) was an American jazz alto saxophonist of the hard bop -.

Life and work

Sonny Criss came to Los Angeles in 1942 and played mostly there, some with their own groups, some with Johnny Otis, Howard McGhee, Billy Eckstine, Gerald Wilson, and other local groups. In 1947 he participated in jam sessions, organized by Norman Granz, and in part at the JATP tours in 1948. During the 1950s, he took a series of panels on the small label on Imperial ( Jazz USA, Go Man, Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter featuring Sonny Clark). In 1953 he went on tour with Buddy Rich. In 1965 he signed a recording contract with Prestige Records and took a number of albums in the hard bop tradition, as in 1967 Portrait of Sonny Criss with Walter Davis Jr., Paul Chambers and Alan Dawson. He took on in 1968 six compositions and arrangements by Horace Tapscott, who appeared on Sonny 's Dream; contributing musicians have included Conte Candoli, Ray Draper, Teddy Edwards, Tommy Flanagan and Al McKibbon.

This was followed by sessions for the label Muse and Impulse! Records. In 1974 he worked with pianist George Arvanitas; 1975 Dolo Coker and Ray Crawford ( Criss Craft). 1977 Sonny Criss ill from stomach cancer and Los Angeles took in his adopted hometown of life.

His play on the alto saxophone is heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.

Auswahldiskographie

Plates under his own name

  • California Boppin ', 1947 ( Fresh Sound )
  • Memorial Album ( DIW, 1947-65 )
  • Sonny Criss Quartet 1949-1957 ( Fresh Sound )
  • Intermission Riff ( OJC, 1951)
  • The Complete Imperial Sessions ( Blue Note, 1956)
  • Sonny Criss Quartet Featuring Wynton Kelly ( Fresh Sound, 1959)
  • Jazz In Paris - Sonny Criss: Mr. Blues Pour Flirter ( Emarcy )
  • This Is Criss ( Prestige / OJC, 1966)
  • Portrait Of Criss ( Prestige / OJC, 1967)
  • The Beat Goes On ( OJC, 1968) with Cedar Walton
  • Sonny's Dream ( Prestige / OJC, 1968) with Conte Candoli
  • Up, Up And Away ( OJC )
  • Rockin ' In Rhythm ( OJC )
  • I'll Catch The Sun ( Prestige, 1969) with Hampton Hawes, Monty Budwig, Shelly Manne
  • Criss Craft ( Muse, 1975)
  • Out Of Nowhere ( Muse, 1975) with Barry Harris

Other recordings

  • Charlie Parker: Inglewood Jam ( Fresh Sound, 1952) with Chet Baker
  • Wardell Gray Memorial, Vol 2 ( OJC, 1950-52 )
Memphis (Tennessee) Impulse! Records DIW Records Blue Note Records Richard Cook (journalist) Integrated Authority File
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