Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Sonny Simmons: The Traveller

Sonny Simmons: The Traveller

By Mark Corroto
July 12, 2005
View read count

Every time a new Sonny Simmons record is released, reviewers encourage listeners to wake up to this shadowy figure. Simmons has always been a guy hovering behind the glory. In the '60s he seemed a footnote to Ornette Coleman and Eric Dolphy, and listeners bought Ayler on ESP before Simmons. His rediscovery in the late '80s was again a back page story to Ornette Coleman's return.

Well, Simmons is back again.

The Swedish label Jazzaway has produced three new sessions, the first of which is The Traveller. With music composed by conductor Vidar Johansen and a string quartet in tow, Simmons hasn't sounded better in his seventy-plus years!

Neither the strings nor the jazz quartet dominate this recording. Johansen integrates things nicely. The luscious three-minute introduction by piano/bass/drums plus rising strings queues Simmons to step into "Sunset, the sexiest composition on the recording. Simmons eschews the brash for the beautiful. He can charm you with just a few notes.

The strings function well, painting sweetness, but they are also well adapted here for a bit of the outward bound. Jon Klette's "Brainstorm frees the time signatures and allows for some exploration. Simmons' internal organization keeps things tied down and palatable.

Highlights here include "Armada, with its almost film score feel, and "Duet, which finds Simmons in his element—playing off the the bass notes of Mats Eilertsen. Simmons' voice on saxophone (and English horn) is one that should not be overlooked. As long as he keeps recording, someone will probably be there continuing to remind us to listen.

Track Listing

Humphrey; Armada; Spheres; Duet; Brainstorm; Sunset.

Personnel

Sonny Simmons

saxophone, alto

Sonny Simmons: alto saxophone, English horn; Anders Aarum: piano; Mats Eilertsen: bass; Ole-Thomas Kolberg: drums; Harald Aadland: violin; Eyleen Siegel: violin; Bendik Foss: viola; Kari Ravnan: cello; Vidar Johansen: flute, conductor.

Album information

Title: The Traveller | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Jazzaway

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Sue Mingus: "First and Foremost a Co...
< Previous

Saskatchewan Jazz Festival 2005
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.