The name Sonny Simmons is variously preceded by
the words "underrated," "underappreciated," or even
"unknown." Based on the evidence presented on
Burning Spirits, a session from late 1970 – released the
following year as a double LP and just been
reissued by Fantasy Records – the neglect and indifference of jazz listeners has been criminal.
Simmons had released a few recordings in the
‘60s as a leader on
ESP and Arhoolie (all currently back in print), but it would be nearly 22 years before he made
another significant recording after Burning Spirits. The
harrowing intensity of the solos, the unrelenting quest
for transcendence, and the overriding spirituality of
the compositions indicate a substantial amount of
recovery time was in order. Simmons – and his band –
left it all in the studio.
The title track is delivered in two versions, each
leading off what used to be the first side of the
individual LPs. Simmons’ style is original, equally
convincing on alto or tenor, mixing Ornette’s vocal
quality, Coltrane’s harmonics, and Albert Ayler’s
unflinching conviction to something greater. Under
these circumstances, when Simmons steps aside and
lets his band come forward, it’s a welcome let up, and
each player is inventive and interesting. Barbara
Donald’s trumpet is straightforward and pure, while
Michael White delivers dramatic violin swipes on
"Healing Rays" and delightful melodic playing on
"Things and Beings," the gentlest piece on the disc.
Here, Simmons plays the English horn with the buzz
of an exotic woodwind from the Nile valley, and
Lonnie Liston Smith’s liquid piano substitutes for
Donald’s trumpet. On "New Newk," the group takes
on a more traditional quartet formation, and Richard
Davis plays pliant and flexible bass. On all the other
tracks, Davis (on the left channel) is paired with Cecil
McBee (on the right) and the two-bass attack is
consistently effusive and exciting.
For 80 minutes Burning Spirits grabs you by the
collar and doesn’t let go. It’s a full dose of old school
energy music that’s hard to come by these days.
Except, Sonny Simmons is still out there, making
records and pouring it out on stage. It’s not too late to
give him his due.
This review originally appeared in
All About Jazz-New York.
~ Jeff Stockton
