Biography
Sonny Simmons distinguished himself as an alto saxophonist of resolute independence, a passionate improviser whose explorations bridged modal free jazz with the propulsion of hard bop swing. Initial notice arrived for him on the West Coast during the early 1960s when he led an ensemble alongside Prince Lasha. Additional work placed him in the company of Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy, and Elvin Jones. The 1966 album Staying on the Watch, recorded with his wife and trumpeter Barbara Donald, ultimately secured his standing as an intrepid, unbound voice at the leading edge of avant-garde jazz. An extended stretch of homelessness and street busking for income halted his momentum and consigned him to neglect. He endured nonetheless, restoring critical attention through recordings such as Ancient Ritual in 1994, The Traveller in 2005, and Nomadic in 2014 with the psychedelic ensemble Moksha Somnyasin.
Sicily Island, Louisiana, marked his birthplace in 1933; at age six his family suffered forcible removal from their farm by an armed local racist mob. Relocation eventually brought them to Oakland, California, where Simmons took up the English horn. He changed to alto saxophone upon turning 16, absorbing formative influences from bebop and R&B figures including Dexter Gordon, Illinois Jacquet, and especially Charlie Parker. After supporting Lowell Fulson and Amos Milburn, he secured footing in jazz circles through membership in bassist Charles Mingus’ band. A quintet formed with flutist Prince Lasha in 1962 yielded several compelling free jazz outings, among them The Cry! from 1962 and Firebirds from 1967. Time spent in New York also produced recordings alongside Elvin Jones and Eric Dolphy.
Marriage to trumpeter Barbara Donald occurred in 1964; she proved a potent soloist with whom Simmons assembled a boldly exploratory group. Their first joint statement came via Staying on the Watch for ESP in 1966, a defining release that included pianist John Hicks, bassist Teddy Smith, and drummer Marvin Patillo. Music from the Spheres followed in 1968, then Rumasuma a year later. Burning Spirits appeared in 1970 under Lester Koenig’s production, uniting them with an all-star lineup that featured Richard Davis and Cecil McBee on bass, Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, and Clifford Jarvis on drums.
Personal difficulties nevertheless surfaced by the mid-1970s, undermining both professional stability and domestic life. The marriage dissolved, and Simmons took to the streets. Nearly two decades of obscurity ensued, during which he frequently slept in a cardboard box while performing for spare change. Sudden reappearance in 1994 brought the trio album Ancient Ritual on Qwest/Warner Bros., restoring the same exploratory spirit. That record, together with collaborations alongside younger figures such as Branford Marsalis, secured overdue acknowledgment and revived his trajectory. Further well-regarded sessions for Qwest and CIMP included Transcendence in 1996, American Jungle in 1997, and Universal Prayer/Survival Skills in 1999.
Although intermittent struggles for employment persisted, often involving extended periods in Europe, creative involvement never ceased. Director Robert Brewster’s documentary film In Modern Time, a Sonny Simmons Story, appeared in 2003. Continued resurgence marked later releases such as Jewels in 2004, The Traveller in 2005, and I’ll See You When You Get There in 2006; Last Man Standing followed in 2007. Partnership with the French psychedelic outfit Moksha Samnyasin produced the 2014 album Nomadic. The archival live recording Reincarnation from 1991, documenting performances with Donald—who died in 2013—surfaced on Arhoolie in 2015. Simmons passed on April 8, 2021, at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City at the age of 87.
Sicily Island, Louisiana, marked his birthplace in 1933; at age six his family suffered forcible removal from their farm by an armed local racist mob. Relocation eventually brought them to Oakland, California, where Simmons took up the English horn. He changed to alto saxophone upon turning 16, absorbing formative influences from bebop and R&B figures including Dexter Gordon, Illinois Jacquet, and especially Charlie Parker. After supporting Lowell Fulson and Amos Milburn, he secured footing in jazz circles through membership in bassist Charles Mingus’ band. A quintet formed with flutist Prince Lasha in 1962 yielded several compelling free jazz outings, among them The Cry! from 1962 and Firebirds from 1967. Time spent in New York also produced recordings alongside Elvin Jones and Eric Dolphy.
Marriage to trumpeter Barbara Donald occurred in 1964; she proved a potent soloist with whom Simmons assembled a boldly exploratory group. Their first joint statement came via Staying on the Watch for ESP in 1966, a defining release that included pianist John Hicks, bassist Teddy Smith, and drummer Marvin Patillo. Music from the Spheres followed in 1968, then Rumasuma a year later. Burning Spirits appeared in 1970 under Lester Koenig’s production, uniting them with an all-star lineup that featured Richard Davis and Cecil McBee on bass, Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, and Clifford Jarvis on drums.
Personal difficulties nevertheless surfaced by the mid-1970s, undermining both professional stability and domestic life. The marriage dissolved, and Simmons took to the streets. Nearly two decades of obscurity ensued, during which he frequently slept in a cardboard box while performing for spare change. Sudden reappearance in 1994 brought the trio album Ancient Ritual on Qwest/Warner Bros., restoring the same exploratory spirit. That record, together with collaborations alongside younger figures such as Branford Marsalis, secured overdue acknowledgment and revived his trajectory. Further well-regarded sessions for Qwest and CIMP included Transcendence in 1996, American Jungle in 1997, and Universal Prayer/Survival Skills in 1999.
Although intermittent struggles for employment persisted, often involving extended periods in Europe, creative involvement never ceased. Director Robert Brewster’s documentary film In Modern Time, a Sonny Simmons Story, appeared in 2003. Continued resurgence marked later releases such as Jewels in 2004, The Traveller in 2005, and I’ll See You When You Get There in 2006; Last Man Standing followed in 2007. Partnership with the French psychedelic outfit Moksha Samnyasin produced the 2014 album Nomadic. The archival live recording Reincarnation from 1991, documenting performances with Donald—who died in 2013—surfaced on Arhoolie in 2015. Simmons passed on April 8, 2021, at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City at the age of 87.
Albums
