Sonny Criss

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

Live and act

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

Sessions for the label Muse and Impulse followed! Records . In 1974 he worked with the pianist Georges Arvanitas ; 1975 with Dolo Coker and Ray Crawford ( CrissCraft ). In 1977, Sonny Criss contracted stomach cancer and committed suicide in his adopted city of Los Angeles.

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

Selection discography

Records under your own name

  • California Boppin´ 1947 ( Fresh Sound )
  • Memorial Album ( DIW , 1947–65)
  • Sonny Criss Quartet 1949-1957 (Fresh Sound)
  • Intermission Reef (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
  • Crisscraft (Muse, 1975)
  • Out Of Nowhere (Muse, 1975) with Barry Harris

More shots

  • Charlie Parker: Inglewood Jam (Fresh Sounds, 1952) with Chet Baker
  • West Coast Jazz Session - Live At The Trade Winds 1952 (Fresh Sounds Records)
  • Wardell Gray: Memorial, Vol 2 (OJC, 1950–52)
  • Hampton Hawes: Live At Memory Lane (Fresh Sound, 1970)

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Criss, Sonny
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Criss, William
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American hard bop jazz alto saxophonist
DATE OF BIRTH October 23, 1927
PLACE OF BIRTH Memphis , Tennessee
DATE OF DEATH 19th November 1977
Place of death Los Angeles , California