Ancient Ritual

Sonny Simmons | Format: Audio Cassette

Product Details

• Audio Cassette (July 19, 1994)
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002MRJ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Track Listings

1. Reincarnation

2. Trumpet Ship

3. Theme for Linda

4. Crystal

5. The Other East

6. Country Parson

7. Ancient Ritual

8. Sundown in Egypt

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great obscure gem, February 1, 2002

By 

Andreas C G "Andreas Carl Georgi" (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient Ritual (Audio CD)

Sonny Simmons is best known for a number of records he recorded in the 60's in the post-bop to Avant-Guarde style, including 2 with Prince Lasha ("Firebirds" is a masterpiece) and one Elvin Jones and Jimmy Garrison.

On this CD Simmons dispenses with the dissonance and wierdness of 60's Free Jazz, but he retains the passion and creativity of his previous recordings.

Whether playing Alto Sax or English Horn, Simmons has a unique, instantly recognizable style. It is a travesty that this man doesn't get more recognition.

This CD is easily recommended. Snap it up before it disappears again!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invisible Standout, May 28, 2006

By 

Anonymous Lover of Beauty - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient Ritual (Audio CD)

One wants to believe in critical merit, in the general public's good taste, but when an album like "Ancient Ritual" is all but ignored, it's hard to resist cynicism. Not much to report past that. The fact is that Mr. Simmons returned to the scene after a long hiatus and produced a standout album. A gas from top to bottom. Cooks and swings...and that is something all too rare in contemporary jazz. Spread the word.

4.0 out of 5 stars LATE PERIOD SIMMONS PLAYING QUALITY JAZZ IN A TRIO FORMAT, April 27, 2011

By 

Stuart Jefferson (San Diego,Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ancient Ritual (Audio CD)

69 minutes of music. The sound is clean, warm, and open. The booklet contains information on the songs and Simmons approach to music.

For those who are scared off with Sonny Simmons link to "free jazz", "outside jazz", or whatever it's labeled-forget all that. Simmons early days with Prince Lasha (pronounced "Lashay"), or his fine album "Manhattan Egos", are most assuredly in the free jazz camp. But not this fine set of music. Eight compositions-all written by Simmons-the trio (Simmons-alto sax/English Horn), His son Zarak (drums), and the fine player Charnett Moffett (bass), blow through many melodic changes in a fine set of late 20th Century jazz.

Simmons has become a more introspective, sensitive, quiet composer over the years. This is jazz with teeth, but it won't bite you (like Anthony Braxton for instance), no matter if it's your first or fiftieth playing of this album. Throughout, Simmons' well thought out and arranged compositions are very sensitive, intelligent, and exciting. No matter if it's up tempo ("Trumpet Ship"), or a ballad ("Crystal"), Simmons' investment in his music is very deep. This is a mature musician playing honest-to-goodness, real jazz. The kind that you don't hear too much nowadays. He's no pretender-he's the real deal. And with a rhythm section that not only lays down a good foundation, but is capable of filling in the spaces between Simmons' notes, this is one fine album. Probably the closest to his style from years ago is the title tune. But even that is full of melodies, with Simmons going "outside" occasionally to stir things up.

But I also encourage you to pick up Simmons' "Manhattan Egos", on Arhoolie Records. While it's a style Simmons is known for (avant garde), and yes it's high energy blowing (including Simmons' then wife Barbara Donald on trumpet-and Zarak's mother), it's full of exciting, visceral playing-fierce and lyrical that has a sense all it's own. But if your tastes run towards something a bit tamer but of high quality-pick up "Ancient Ritual". It's beautiful music from a master musician.