The disciple of Charlie Parker. The heir of John Coltrane and Albert Ayler. The partner of Eric Dolphy. Sonny Simmons stands tall.

Sonny has played with many of the greats of free jazz including Don Cherry, Anthony Braxton, Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy, Sunny Murray, Lonnie Liston Smith, Elvin Jones and many more.

Sonny made a number of striking albums in the 1960’s. Though not a die-hard avant-gardist like Ornette Coleman and Jimmy Lyons, he sticks in his own provocative way to the tradition. He was then a leading figure of the Free Jazz scene in NYC, cutting legendary records. Moving to California he became an underground hero with the likes of Bert Wilson, James Zitro, Smiley Winters and producer James Bronson Jr.

Then, there was nothing. Sonny Simmons suffered a spectacular eclipse during the 70’s and 80’s. With the West Coast no longer providing work he ended up in the streets. Playing kept him alive and he managed to maintain working groups throughout most of this “lost period” producing hours of incredible music that are still to be released.

Gradually he began to build a local reputation again. Remerging in the 90’s he has had a spectacular come back forming a string of groups with Oliver Lake, Sunny Murray, Michael Marcus, Anthony Braxton, Bobby Few and many others.

LINKS

www.sonnysimmons.org

Louis Moholo-Moholo

"One of the legends of the South African and British jazz scenes, drummer Louis Moholo-Moholo came to London in the mid-1960s, and has been balancing emotional eloquence, township music's energy and an openness to the wildest of jazz/improv freedoms ever since. Moholo-Moholo's presence on the scene as a blast of fresh air."-John Fordham, The Guardian

Louis Moholo born in Cape Town, South Africa, knew from a very early age that he wanted to play the drums. After playing around SA he escaped the forces of the Apartheid and after playing in festivals / clubs around Europe finally arrived in England in 1965. The music scene was knocked sideways with their stimulating rhythms and songs of his legendary band The Blue Notes.

In 1965-67 Louis toured South America with Steve Lacy, returning to Britain in time to join Chris McGregor's newly formed Brotherhood of Breath which stunned audiences around Europe with their own special South African big band sound.

Louis went on to play with many or the great free players from both Europe and beyond including Peter Brotzmann, Evan Parker, Keith Tippett and a series of duos with Cecil Taylor.

LINKS

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=25887

http://www.last.fm/music/Louis+Moholo

John Edwards

Since the early 1990s John Edwards has built a reputation as one of the finest, and most in demand bass players currently active on the British and European improv/ jazz and New music scenes- a first choice for musicians such as Evan Parker, Louis Moholo, Veryan Weston, Charles Hayward and Spring Heel Jack- Other groups include BRUISE and the Obliquity trio with Alan Wilkinson and Noble.

A solo double bass cd ‘VOLUME’ was released in 2008 on the PSI label.

LINKS

http://www.myspace.com/wilkinsonedwardsnoble

http://www.myspace.com/nobleedwardsward

Pat Thomas

Pat studied classical piano from aged 8- started playing Jazz from the age of 16- he has since gone on to develop an utterly unique style - embracing Improvisation, jazz and new music. He has played with Derek Bailey in Company Week (1990/91) and in the trio AND (with Noble) – with Tony Oxley’s Quartet and Celebration Orchestra and in Duo with Lol Coxhill.

Current projects include a duo with Steve Williamson, and the group SCATTER. A solo piano Cd “ PAT THOMAS PLAYS THE MUSIC OF DEREK BAILEY AND THELONIOUS MONK” was released in 2008 on the FMR label.

LINK