Biography
Among the scant electric guitarists active in avant-garde jazz, Sonny Sharrock ranks as the most significant, having ranked among the first to explore free improvisation alongside Derek Bailey and Sonny Greenwich. His raw ferocity and towering blocks of sound drew inspiration from the piercing overtones of saxophonists such as Coltrane, Sanders, and Ayler, while his pioneering use of distortion and feedback preceded even Jimi Hendrix. These choices naturally drew sharp resistance from traditionalists, yet once his advances gained acceptance he earned broad acclaim within avant-garde circles.
Warren Harding Sharrock entered the world in Ossining, NY, in 1940 and began performing vocals in doo wop ensembles in 1953. Exposure to Kind of Blue sparked his passion for jazz, yet asthma led him to adopt guitar in 1960 rather than saxophone. After an unsuccessful period at Berklee four years earlier, he relocated to New York in 1965 and began collaborating with Byard Lancaster and Babatunde Olatunji. His recording debut arrived late in 1966 on Pharoah Sanders’ Tauhid, and he stayed with Sanders through 1968 before joining Herbie Mann’s ensemble, where his explosive outbursts frequently intersected, sometimes compellingly, with the flautist’s more approachable style.
Sharrock’s initial leader dates, 1969’s Black Woman and 1970’s Monkey-Pockie-Boo, showcased the sweeping, wordless vocals of his wife Linda. In 1970 he declined an opportunity to audition for Miles Davis, believing his powerful, uncredited contribution to A Tribute to Jack Johnson already stood on its own; the decision nonetheless ushered in an extended period of low visibility after he left Mann’s group around 1972. Producer and bassist Bill Laswell brought him back into view in 1986 by enlisting him for the avant-punk-jazz collective Last Exit. Laswell also oversaw most of the sessions that captured Sharrock at his most unrestrained, including the solo Guitar in 1986, Seize the Rainbow in 1987, Highlife in 1990, and the duet album Faith Moves with Nicky Skopelitis.
Ask the Ages, released in 1991, represented Sharrock’s crowning achievement, bringing him back together with Pharoah Sanders and balancing his visceral power with melodic depth. Just as he began attracting a younger rock audience drawn to his exploratory spirit, he suffered a fatal heart attack in May 1994; his final sessions were recorded for the animated series Space Ghost Coast to Coast.
Warren Harding Sharrock entered the world in Ossining, NY, in 1940 and began performing vocals in doo wop ensembles in 1953. Exposure to Kind of Blue sparked his passion for jazz, yet asthma led him to adopt guitar in 1960 rather than saxophone. After an unsuccessful period at Berklee four years earlier, he relocated to New York in 1965 and began collaborating with Byard Lancaster and Babatunde Olatunji. His recording debut arrived late in 1966 on Pharoah Sanders’ Tauhid, and he stayed with Sanders through 1968 before joining Herbie Mann’s ensemble, where his explosive outbursts frequently intersected, sometimes compellingly, with the flautist’s more approachable style.
Sharrock’s initial leader dates, 1969’s Black Woman and 1970’s Monkey-Pockie-Boo, showcased the sweeping, wordless vocals of his wife Linda. In 1970 he declined an opportunity to audition for Miles Davis, believing his powerful, uncredited contribution to A Tribute to Jack Johnson already stood on its own; the decision nonetheless ushered in an extended period of low visibility after he left Mann’s group around 1972. Producer and bassist Bill Laswell brought him back into view in 1986 by enlisting him for the avant-punk-jazz collective Last Exit. Laswell also oversaw most of the sessions that captured Sharrock at his most unrestrained, including the solo Guitar in 1986, Seize the Rainbow in 1987, Highlife in 1990, and the duet album Faith Moves with Nicky Skopelitis.
Ask the Ages, released in 1991, represented Sharrock’s crowning achievement, bringing him back together with Pharoah Sanders and balancing his visceral power with melodic depth. Just as he began attracting a younger rock audience drawn to his exploratory spirit, he suffered a fatal heart attack in May 1994; his final sessions were recorded for the animated series Space Ghost Coast to Coast.
Albums
