Sonny Red - Breezing

Artist Biography by Scott Yanow

Sonny Red was a good but not great altoist who was somewhat lost in the shuffle in the 1960s and '70s. He worked in Detroit with Barry Harris (1949-1952), in 1954 temporarily switched to tenor while with Frank Rosolino, and later that year joined Art Blakey briefly. In 1957, with his arrival in New York he gained some recognition, recording with Curtis Fuller and Paul Quinichette, in addition to having several dates as a leader (1958-1962) for Savoy, Blue Note, and particularly Jazzland. Despite some freelancing and recording with Clifford Jordan, Pony Poindexter, Donald Byrd, Kenny Dorham, and Yusef Lateef among others in the 1960s, Red was in obscurity by the 1970s.

Sonny Red

Breezing 

"Brother B" - 5:02 "All I Do Is Dream of You" - 4:03 "The New Blues" - 5:34 "Ditty" - 4:36 "'Teef" - 6:26 "Breezing" - 6:06 "A Handful of Stars" - 4:42 "If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You" - 2:50

Sonny Red - alto saxophone Blue Mitchell - trumpet (# 1, 3, 5 & 6) Yusef Lateef - tenor saxophone (# 1, 3, 5 & 6) Barry Harris - piano Bob Cranshaw - bass Albert Heath - drums Recorded

November 3, 1960

Plaza Sound Studios

New York City