Sonny Fortune
{{Short description|American jazz saxophonist (1939–2018)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sonny Fortune
| image = Sonny Fortune photo.jpg
| caption = Sonny Fortune, April 2007
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Cornelius Fortune
| birth_date = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1939|5|19}}
| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S
| death_date = {{Date of death and age|2018|10|25|1939|5|19}}
| death_place = New York, U.S.
| genre = Jazz, free jazz, jazz fusion
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Saxophone, flute, clarinet
| years_active = 1966{{ndash}}2018
| label = Prestige, Strata-East, Horizon, Atlantic, Blue Note
| website =
}}
Cornelius "Sonny" Fortune (May 19, 1939{{cite book|title=The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=895}} – October 25, 2018) was an American jazz saxophonist. He played soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, clarinet, and flute.
Biography
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. After moving to New York City in 1967, Fortune recorded and appeared live with drummer Elvin Jones's group. In 1968, he was a member of Mongo Santamaría's band. He performed with singer Leon Thomas, and with pianist McCoy Tyner (1971–73). In 1974, Fortune replaced Dave Liebman in Miles Davis's ensemble, remaining until spring 1975, when he was succeeded by Sam Morrison. Fortune can be heard on the albums Big Fun, Get Up With It, Agharta, and Pangaea, the last two recorded live in Japan.{{cite web|last1=Collar|title=Sonny Fortune|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sonny-fortune-mn0000795269/biography|website=AllMusic|access-date=6 June 2017}}
Fortune joined Nat Adderley after his brief tenure with Davis, then formed his own group in June 1975, recording two albums for the Horizon Records. During the 1990s, he recorded several albums for Blue Note. He has also performed with Roy Brooks, Buddy Rich, George Benson, Rabih Abou Khalil, Roy Ayers, Oliver Nelson, Gary Bartz, Rashied Ali, and Pharoah Sanders, as well as appearing on the live album The Atlantic Family Live at Montreux (1977).
Fortune died of a stroke at the age of 79 in October 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/10/27/661414691/sonny-fortune-stalwart-saxophonist-of-new-york-dies-at-79|title=Sonny Fortune, Stalwart Saxophonist Of New York, Dies At 79|website=Npr.org|access-date=October 27, 2018}}
Discography
=As leader=
- 1966: Trip on the Strip with Stan Hunter (Prestige)
- 1974: Long Before Our Mothers Cried (Strata-East)
- 1975: Awakening (Horizon)
- 1976: Waves of Dreams (Horizon)
- 1977: Serengeti Minstrel (Atlantic)
- 1978: Infinity Is (Atlantic)
- 1979: With Sound Reason (Atlantic)
- 1984: Laying It Down (Konnex)
- 1987: Invitation (WhyNot)
- 1991: It Ain't What It Was (Konnex)
- 1993: Monk's Mood (Konnex)
- 1994: Four in One (Blue Note)
- 1995: A Better Understanding (Blue Note)
- 1996: From Now On (Blue Note)
- 2000: In the Spirit of John Coltrane (Shanachie)
- 2003: Continuum (Sound Reason)
- 2007: You and the Night and the Music (18th & Vine)
- 2009: Last Night at Sweet Rhythm (Sound Reason)
=As sideman=
With Rabih Abou-Khalil
- Bukra (MMP, 1988)
- Al-Jadida (Enja, 1990)
With Nat Adderley
- On the Move (Theresa, 1983)
- Blue Autumn (Theresa, 1985)
- Autumn Leaves (Sweet Basil, 1990 [1991])
- Work Song: Live at Sweet Basil (Sweet Basil, 1990 [1993])
With Billy Bang
- Vietnam: The Aftermath (Justin Time, 2001)
With Kenny Barron
- Innocence (Wolf, 1978)
With Gary Bartz
- Alto Memories (Verve, 1994)
With George Benson
- Tell It Like It Is (A&M/CTI, 1969)
With Miles Davis
- Big Fun (Columbia, 1974)
- Get Up with It (Columbia, 1974)
- Agharta (Columbia, 1975)
- Pangaea (Columbia, 1976)
With Dizzy Gillespie
- Closer to the Source (Atlantic, 1984)
With Elvin Jones
- Elvin Jones Jazz Machine Live at Pit Inn (Polydor (Japan), 1985)
- When I Was at Aso-Mountain (Enja, 1990)
- In Europe (Enja, 1991)
- It Don't Mean a Thing (Enja, 1993)
With Charles Mingus
- Three or Four Shades of Blues (Atlantic, 1977)
With Alphonse Mouzon
- The Essence of Mystery (Blue Note, 1972)
With Pharoah Sanders
- Izipho Zam (My Gifts) (Strata-East, 1969 [1973])
With Melvin Sparks
- Akilah! (Prestige, 1972)
With Leon Spencer
- Bad Walking Woman (Prestige, 1972)
- Where I'm Coming From (Prestige, 1973)
With Charles Sullivan
- Genesis (Strata-East, 1974)
With McCoy Tyner
- Sahara (Milestone, 1972)
- Song for My Lady (Milestone, 1973)
With Mal Waldron
- Crowd Scene (Soul Note, 1989)
- Where Are You? (Soul Note, 1989)
With Mongo Santamaría
- Stone Soul (1969)
Filmography
- Elvin Jones: Jazz Machine (2008) with Ravi Coltrane, Willie Pickens and Chip Jackson
- Europafest: Jazz Highlights (2008) with Mike Stern, Bob Berg, Sun Ra, Archie Shepp, John Zorn, Bill Frisell
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|www.sonnyfortune.com}}
- [http://www.widehive.com/artists/sonnyfortune Sonny Fortune's Page at Wide Hive Records]
- [https://www.discogs.com/artist/260898-Sonny-Fortune Entry at discogs.com]
- {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=mn0000795269}}
{{Sonny Fortune}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fortune, Sonny}}
Category:Jazz musicians from Philadelphia
Category:American jazz alto saxophonists
Category:American jazz baritone saxophonists
Category:American jazz soprano saxophonists
Category:American jazz tenor saxophonists
Category:American male saxophonists
Category:American jazz clarinetists
Category:American jazz flautists
Category:African-American jazz musicians