Sonny Criss

Mack

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547
Devon
Can't believe I haven't stumbled across this player before - my main man has always been Cannonball for his bluesy playing - so Sonny Criss is a natural for me. Expressive blues playing, wonderful sound leaping from subtone to full-on wailing. Hearing this was a revelation - this is exactly the sound I have been inching towards, but without hearing a player to emulate. Makes me want to stay off work and just play. How many other great players are there languishing in the back catalogues of Prestige and Blue Note who I should be hearing...

Tragically he developed stomach cancer at the age of 50 and shot himself. How many great jazz and blues players make it to their 60s...? 🙁

 
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Worth digging out the Gene Norman Just Jazz concert with Wardell Gray, Howard McGhee, and a blistering
Sonny Criss on 'Grooving High'. Takes the paint right offf the woodwork.
 
I don't think I've heard of him before. Great playing. Great control and vibrato. Soulful mood exploding into technical runs without losing the feel for the piece. Excellent stuff.
 
I love his playing. This Is Criss and Portrait of Sonny Criss are wonderful.
I guess he'd one of those players that didn't get well known as an innovator. He just plays in a mainstream way - but he never really puts a foot wrong and has a great tone.
 

Similar threads... or are they? Maybe not but they could be worth reading anyway 😀

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