Sonny's Crib – Sonny Clark
This stop-time blues with a bridge is a classic example of Sonny Clark's simple, elegant style.
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- Recording: Sonny Clark - Sonny's Crib
- Recorded on: September 1, 1957
- Label: Blue Note (BLP 1576)
- Concert Key: B-flat
- Style: Swing (medium)
- Trumpet - Donald Byrd
- Tenor Sax - John Coltrane
- Trombone - Curtis Fuller
- Piano - Sonny Clark
- Bass - Paul Chambers
- Drums - Art Taylor
Video
- Fathers And Sons Jazz Quartet: Matt Harmon, cello; Steve Hunt, piano; Paul Harmon, bass; Josh Hunt, drums; live in 2006.
Sonny's Crib is an example of the genius of simplicity. The melody is made up of a single repeating theme that gathers tension, storing energy as the chords below it change. The rhythm section hits just hint at the harmony on the A section, completing the bare-bones aesthetic. The clean simplicity of the head is an excellent contrast to the intricate solos from all members of the combo except drummer Art Taylor, who didn't get to solo.
"Sonny's Crib" was recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's legendary Hackensack Studio.
This is officially Sonny Clark's second recording as a leader. See Bootin' It for info about Sonny's first album as a leader ("Dial 'S' For Sonny") as well as other earlier historical info about Sonny. Times were certainly different in 1957 for recording musicians. These two Sonny leader dates for Blue Note Records are less than a month and a half apart. Blue Note also keep him busy in between his two dates with three other recordings: Curtis Fuller's "Bone and Bari" date, the John Jenkins With Kenny Burrell session, and a Hank Mobley session ("Hank Mobley Quintet Featuring Sonny Clark").
Here are a couple of other nice recordings of Sonny's Crib on tribute albums:
Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet and Music In The Key Of Clark / John Hicks
This is officially Sonny Clark's second recording as a leader. See Bootin' It for info about Sonny's first album as a leader ("Dial 'S' For Sonny") as well as other earlier historical info about Sonny. Times were certainly different in 1957 for recording musicians. These two Sonny leader dates for Blue Note Records are less than a month and a half apart. Blue Note also keep him busy in between his two dates with three other recordings: Curtis Fuller's "Bone and Bari" date, the John Jenkins With Kenny Burrell session, and a Hank Mobley session ("Hank Mobley Quintet Featuring Sonny Clark").
Here are a couple of other nice recordings of Sonny's Crib on tribute albums:
Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet and Music In The Key Of Clark / John Hicks
Sonny Clark
Jul 21, 1931 – Jan 13, 1963
A remarkable composer and pianist whose special touch and articulation makes him instantly recognizable at the piano, Sonny (Conrad Yeatis) Clark recorded so much on the Blue Note label that he was practically their in-house pianist. This hard-bop mainstay was particularly noteworthy for his virtuosic right hand lines. Read more...