The curator of a series of solo jazz concerts on one Western University campus recalls a panicky phone call from the theater manager. "Your artist is here! Where's his rhythm section?" In that case, the performer was actually known for solo saxophone recitals, not something that could actually be said for Sonny Simmons. Most listeners who are familiar with the free jazz of the '60s will recall some scintillating Simmons sides, often in the company of flautist Prince Lasha, presenting a lively alternative route to what was basically Ornette Coleman's house. A rhythm section was a big part of these ventures, laying down a toe-tapping groove that harmonically allowed the horn players maximum flexibility. Players from this style thus had lots of wiggle room when it came to matters of intonation and tone, unintimidated by bassists -- not to mention pianists -- running complicated chord sequences. Ironically, this often led back to blues phrasing and Charlie Parker's backyard. All of this is well audible in the Simmons solo disc, actually recorded in 1991 but the sort of music that is essentially timeless, in this case once the era is passed in which solo saxophone was considered a no-no. If anyone still asks where the rhythm section is, the answer would have to be in Simmons' mind -- he plays at all times as if there is one there, or better yet, as if he doesn't need one, a lilting panorama of improvisational decisions that are both easy to follow and intelligently inquisitive in adopting new backgrounds. Someone will always speak up for a band when it comes to backgrounds, no doubt making the argument that the other musicians may force a horn player to be more adventuresome in points of tempo. In the case of the five lengthy solos featured here it could then be easily argued that, left to his own devices, Simmons keeps heading back to a mid-tempo languor. A listener may subsequently drift off if this CD is experienced all in one sitting. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi

1		Music Matador
2		Cosmic Funk
3		Caribbean Nights
4		Other Worlds
5		Reverend Church