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Sonny Fortune: Last Night at Sweet Rhythm
The set list can be viewed as a kind of retrospective, originals culled from various periods in Fortune's career. He goes for the downs from the first notes of the opener, "It Ain't What It Was," blowing his alto with cleverness and abandon. "In Waves of Dreams" Fortune displays a similar virtuosity playing soprano, where he sounds like a snake charmer playing the blues. He returns to alto for the elegiac "A Tribute to a Holiday," a touching memorial that recalls the pitch and intonation of the singer's timeless voice.
John Coltrane's influence is strong throughout. Although the title suggests Miles Davis, "The Blues Are Green" has a mid-tempo groove reminiscent of early-1960s Trane. Fortune brings the listener into the woodshed, blowing alto with god-imploring urgency. He ups the ante on "The Joneses," opening and closing the song with lyrical, impassioned flute statements and burning the house down on alto in between.
Steve Johns swings effortlessly on drums, David Williams is rock solid on bass and Michael Cochrane is a frequently dazzling pianist, but Last Night at Sweet Rhythm is ultimately Sonny Fortune's showcase. After 50 years his star continues to burn brightly.
Track Listing
It Ain't What It Was; The Blues Are Green; Never Again Is Such A Long Time; In Waves of Dreams; A Tribute to a Holiday; The Joneses; Laying It Down.
Personnel
Sonny Fortune
saxophone, altoSonny Fortune: alto and soprano saxes, flute; Michel Cochrane: piano; David Williams: bass; Steve Johns: drums.
Album information
Title: Last Night at Sweet Rhythm | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Sound Reason
About Sonny Fortune
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