The Complete Imperial Sessions [Original recording remastered]

Sonny Criss | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 27, 2000)
• Original Release Date: June 27, 2000
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note Records
• Run Time: 121 minutes
• ASIN: B00004TR13
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,296 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

All things considered, the late alto player Sonny Criss didn't record as much as his talent warranted, especially in the early part of his career, and much of what he did record stayed out of print for too long. This double disc rectifies that situation, collecting all three 1956 albums originally made for the R&B label Imperial. Criss's forte was his ability to combine technical facility with emotional force, and his rather robust yet sharp tone remains distinct. His style seemed to balance elements of bebop and R&B adeptly. The first album here, Jazz U.S.A., features guitarist Barney Kessel on four songs (including a nifty "Alabamy Bound" and the original "Criss Cross") and pianist Kenny Drew. Go Man! boasts a stellar rhythm section of Sonny Clark, Leroy Vinnegar, and Lawrence Marable. Clark and Marable return with vibist Larry Bunker for the final all-Cole Porter album. Like, say, guitarist Grant Green, Criss was able to build a wonderful reputation without straying from the basic blues-bop-and-ballads template. Yet, in a way, that was also his best quality, always seeming to play exactly what you want to hear--and playing it with fluency and feeling. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description

The Complete Imperial Sessions

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very underrated artist!, February 22, 2002

By 

P.J. Le Faucheur (Canada (ex- U.K. resident)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Imperial Sessions (Audio CD)

If i could i would give this C.D. 10 STARS..or more! I originally bought the LP version of "JAZZ U.S.A" in 1977. it was a Japanese pressing and cost me a huge sum back then!---why? i can't think why . Ironically Sonny Criss lived from hand to mouth..scraping by for a living! He wasn't appreciated much in the States and he had to go to France where they loved his style of playing!
One of the fastest be-bop players around who never lost his sense of feel and a fantastic interpreter of the Blues he was apparently once Charlie Parkers chauffeur briefly and then played in both Billy Eckstines and Buddy Richs' Band.
This 2 CD set comprises of the BEST recordings of Criss done at a time when he was in his peak.--It is combined of 3 full LP's (all really hard to obtain!)..if you like an alto man who can play the blues this is your man. Just listen to "West Coast Blues" or the incredible "Hams Blues".--Fantastic rhythm section to match with Hampton Hawes and Barney Kessel.
In the same tradition as Sonny Stitt, much later on in Criss's short career he had to compromise during the "70's disco era" and do some relatively mediocre stuff-- However, even on those records, he played wonderfully!!
He died really young in 1977 from a self inflicted gunshot wound. Some say he was suffering from terminal stomach cancer and decided he couldn't face the pain anymore.
But others say it was because he was depressed about the fact that he couldn't be acknowledged and gain credibility in the USA.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sublime early Criss, June 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Imperial Sessions (Audio CD)

This set fills a substantial gap in Sonny Criss' early recording career, combining his three Imperial albums only previously available as expensive Japanese imports into one exquisite 2-CD set. An inspired choice by Michael Cuscuna and Blue Note for limited reissue in the Connoisseur series. Criss didn't always perform the most challenging material (although how do you go wrong with Cole Porter), but he gets the most out of the material with superb technical playing and expressive, sensitive soloing. There isn't nearly enough Criss material available because he did very little side work -- and of course, he committed suicide at the age of 50 -- but almost all of his work for Prestige, Xanadu and Muse is highly recommended. Most of his recorded work is available now on CD domestically, although the album that followed this Imperial material -- Sonny Criss At The Crossroads on Peacock Records -- is gorgeous and deserves reissue as well in the U.S. It has been available as an expensive Japanese import, but I don't believe that is even available now. Snatch this one up while it's available; once it's gone, it's not likely to see the light of day for a long, long while. But be careful. Buy one Sonny Criss album and you'll have to own 'em all.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This guy was great!, August 1, 2000

By 

bruce horner - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Imperial Sessions (Audio CD)

I originally got this because Sonny Clark is on two of the three albums collected here. I vaguely recalled Sonny Criss being on one or two Parker sessions but knew nothing about him. Well, he was GREAT. He got a very distinctive, personal sound from his instrument, as well as having his own peculiar rhythmic inflections. He's great on both uptempo and slow ballad numbers. And, of course, there's always Sonny Clark. If this 2-CD package seems pricey, remember you're getting THREE LP's for the money and grab it before it goes out of print. I've since discovered that just about everything that Criss recorded (which was little enough) is worth having. (The fan from Castro Valley was right.)