Jazz Articles

Clifton Chenier: Sings the Blues

by Derek Taylor
April 10, 2004

Everyone has a list of those unsung musicians who strike a special chord. Names unknown to the public at large whose contributions go almost completely unrecognized or are overshadowed by others in their immediate orbit. Near the top of my own list sits Cleveland Chenier. Like the lots handed Nat Adderley and Tommy Turrentine, Cleveland almost always found himself eclipsed by brother Clifton, the King of Zydeco. This despite his being an integral agent in many of his sibling’s numerous ...

Sonny Simmons: Live - In Paris

by Mark Corroto
July 5, 2002

The story of the resurrection of saxophonist Sonny Simmons has been told and retold many times. Needless to say, his comeback recording Ancient Ritual in 1994 rekindled interest in his brand of Coltrane meets Ornette and Ayler music. Since then, he has recorded for the specialty jazz label CIMP and a nifty outward session The Cosmosamatics with James Carter, Michael Marcus, and William Parker

In 2000, Arhoolie music re-issued a long out-of-print live 1969 album Manhattan Egos to ...

Clifton Chenier: Live! At Grant Street

by Derek Taylor
February 1, 2001

Clifton Chenier may not have invented Zydeco, but most aficionados will agree that he was the undisputed King of the music during his lifetime. Gargantuan chops on the accordion and an aptness for adroitly blending the ingredients of the genre (Creole, Cajun and Blues) into a wholly personal pastiche assured his ascendancy to the throne. Fortunately Chris Strachwitz’s Arhoolie label was on hand during much of the monarchy to document his abilities in a variety of settings. Playing Norman Granz ...

Sonny Simmons: Manhattan Egos

by Derek Taylor
August 1, 2000

This long-overdue reissue is surprising and satisfying on a number of levels. First of all there’s the fact that it’s on Arhoolie, an imprint far better known for its preeminent Roots and Blues music releases by the likes of Lightnin’ Hopkins, Clifton Chenier and Flaco Jimenez, than as a purveyor of Avant-Garde jazz. Fortunately label owner Chris Strachwitz’s tastes veered in just such a direction in the late 60s by way of more traditional strains of the music and recognizing ...

Sonny Simmons: Manhattan Ego

by Mark Corroto
August 1, 2000

It is easy to forget the humanity of jazz as we the listener, collector, critic examine the music of creativity. With our digital age, re-mastering and access to most of the first hundred years of jazz, we move effortlessly backwards and forwards through time tasting Jelly Roll, James Carter, and George Gershwin. Discovery of Armstrong’s Hot Fives is as easy as a trip to the record store or through the internet.

Besides the obvious ‘big names’ – Miles, Coltrane, Gillespie, ...