A large-ensemble recording. A fully realized creative album and very listenable as well. With Charles Sullivan (tpt) and Stanley Cowell (p). - Michael G. Nastos
He played with McCoy Tyner in the early 70s and finally accepted an offer from Miles Davis with whom he stayed until the trumpeter went into hiatus.
Both influences are clearly audible here as Fortune is less of an innovator but rather merges the best of his influences into interesting and dynamic compositions.
Another of his sources and former employers was Mongo Santamaria - there is a lot of percussion here to drive the tunes onward.
Beside Fortune himself, Stanley Cowell on piano and electric piano and trumpeter Charles Sullivan provide highlights. - Roxanne Walsh
Saxophonist, flutist, and multi-reed player Sonny Fortune was a progressive musician with a harmonically aggressive style who came to prominence as a member of trumpeter Miles Davis' fusion groups of the '70s. Born in Philadelphia in 1939, Fortune attended the Wurlitzer and Granoff music schools and performed with local R&B bands in his teens. Influenced early on by such players as Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, and John Coltrane, Fortune was 18 before he decided to pursue a career in music exclusively. In 1967 he moved to New York City and quickly found work with several name artists, including drummer Elvin Jones and percussionist Mongo Santamaria, with whom he would play for two years.
Around 1970 Fortune was asked join McCoy Tyner's group and ended up performing with the legendary pianist from 1971 to 1973. During this time, Fortune also recorded with drummer Buddy Rich and even turned down an invitation to join Miles Davis' fusion ensemble, choosing to stick with Tyner. However, in 1974 Fortune finally accepted and replaced saxophonist David Liebman in Davis' group. Although he was only with Davis for a year, it was a fruitful time and Fortune appeared on several albums including Big Fun, Get Up with It, Agharta, and Pangaea.
In 1975 Fortune formed his own group, and during the remainder of the decade released several albums including 1975's Awakening, 1977's Serengeti Minstrel with trumpeter Woody Shaw, and 1977's Waves of Dreams. Also during the '70s, he worked with cornetist Nat Adderley as well as the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. Although his own discography was sparse throughout the '80s, Fortune continued to perform, joining the Coltrane Legacy Band in 1987 along with Tyner, Jones, and bassist Reggie Workman.
In the '90s Fortune's solo work kicked into high gear and he released several acclaimed records for Blue Note, including 1994's Four in One, 1995's A Better Understanding, and 1996's From Now On. During the following years Fortune continued to perform around the world and released a steady stream of albums, including his 2000 tribute album In the Spirit of John Coltrane, 2003's Continuum, 2007's standards album You and the Night and the Music, and 2009's live album Last Night at Sweet Rhythm. Fortune died in Manhattan on October 25, 2018 due to complications of a stroke. He was 79 years old. - Matt Collar
Tracks
01. Long Before Our Mothers Cried
02. A Tribute To A Holiday (Billie)
03. Sound Of Silents
04. Five For Trane
05. Wayneish
SONNY FORTUNE alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
WAYNE DOCKERY bass
CHIP LYLE drums
STANLEY COWELL piano, electric piano
CHARLES SULLIVAN trumpet
ANGEL ALLENDE congas, triangle, tambourine
RICHIE PABLO LANDRUM cowbell, shaker
All music arranged and composed by Sonny Fortune
Recorded September 8 and September 15, 1974 at Minot Studio, White Plains, N.Y.
Strata-East - SES 7423