SONNY CRISS
The Beat Goes On! (Prestige)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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The late sixties were not the easiest of times for the hard boppers. What commercial interest there was in jazz during the decade had been dominated by dance oriented soul jazz earlier in the decade, and was being taken over by fusion as time wore on. For a straight ahead talent like Sonny Criss, finding a place in the spotlight often meant looking for a new generation of standards, contemporary tunes that could replace the Great American Songbook standards and attract a new audience.

1968's The Beat Goes On! is definetely in that vein, featuring the title track, a hit for Sonny & Cher, and Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billy Joe," along with the theme from Dr. Zhivago and some more conventional jazz material. It's a testament to Criss' considerable talents as an interpreter that he manages to find that kernel of improvisational possibility in each tune, turning what could have been a pedestrian collection into a solid jazz session.

He's assisted in that task by a rhythm section that inculdes Cedar Walton on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass and Alan Dawson on drums. Each holds down their supporting role with style, but it's Sonny who shines. This new volume in the Original Jazz Classics series is a welcome addition to the Criss canon.

Track List:

The Beat Goes On * Georgia Rose * Somewhere My Love * Calidad * Yesterdays * Ode To Billy Joe

© 2001 - Shaun Dale