Sonny Criss
Alto saxophonist William "Sonny" Criss was an anomaly of the jazz musicians who came up during the bebop era. Criss moved to Los Angeles from Memphis at the age of 15, and at 19 played in Howard McGhee's band with Charlie Parker and Teddy Edwards. As was the norm for every alto player, Parker exerted a huge influence on Criss' playing. His beefy, earthy tone can be heard on a number of Savoy sessions beginning the next year. Criss drifted, playing in jazz and R&B groups, including those led by Johnny Otis, Billy Eckstine, and Stan Kenton. After joining Buddy Rich in 1956, Criss recorded Jazz U.S.A. for Imperial as a leader; it's one of the true underground classics of the hard bop era. Imperial -- mainly an R&B label specializing in New Orleans acts such as Fats Domino -- put no promotional push behind it. Nonetheless, he was able to cut two more sessions for the label: the excellent Go Man! and Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter. Still playing with Rich, Criss cut At the Crossroads while on tour in Chicago for the Peacock label; the set featured Wynton Kelly and was critically well received. The saxophonist continued to work, fronting his own band in Los Angeles and gigging with others for brief out-of-town jaunts. He signed with Prestige in 1965 and issued a host of fine recordings, This Is Criss! and Sonny's Dream among them. Criss also cut various sessions for Xanadu, Muse, and ABC/Impulse near the end of his life. He committed suicide in 1977 due to the painful consequences of stomach cancer. His fine Crisscraft and Out of Nowhere albums were reissued on CDs, as were his complete Imperial recordings.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
Discography
56 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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This Is Criss! (Rudy Van Gelder Remaster)
Jazz - Released by Prestige on Jan. 1, 2008
Available in24-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by RevOla on Jul. 26, 2019
Available in24-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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This Is Criss! (Remastered 2008/Rudy Van Gelder Edition)
Jazz - Released by Prestige on Jan. 1, 2008
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Four Classic Albums (Jazz USA / Plays Cole Porter / Go Man! / At the Crossroads) [Remastered]
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on Jan. 22, 2016
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Go Man
Jazz - Released by CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92) on Nov. 28, 1956
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter
Bebop - Released by Music Manager on Jun. 22, 2021
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Live in Italy
Sonny Criss, George Arvanitas Trio
Jazz - Released by Fresh Sound Records on Sep. 2, 2010
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Jazz - U.S.A.
Jazz - Released by CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92) on Aug. 22, 1956
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
The Complete Imperial Sessions
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on Jan. 1, 2000
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter
Jazz - Released by CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92) on Jan. 1, 1956
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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This Is Criss!
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on Jan. 1, 1966
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Mr Blues Pour Flirter
Jazz - Released by Universal Music Division Decca Records France on Jun. 5, 2001
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Go Man! (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on Jul. 29, 2019
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Mr Blues Pour Flirter
Jazz - Released by Universal Music Division Decca Records France on Jan. 1, 2000
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Jazz USA (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on Jan. 29, 2016
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
At the Crossroads (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on Jan. 29, 2016
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo