Sonny Sharrock Appreciation....
 

Ive been diggin on Sonny Sharrock's stuff and find him to be a riducolously inventive guitarist, and an extremly underrated musician. His work with Pharof Sanders and Herbie Mann was incredible. Especially his records Tauhis with Sanders and Stone Flutes with Mann, at many times through these pieces its Sharrock's guitar work that outshines the brilliant musicians he was working with. Sharrock doesn't have an astounding amount of records as lead musician, but the ones that are out there are all fucking amazing. Ive been listening to Black Woman quite a bit, and it it some of the best guitar work Ive ever heard in my life. And less we forget, Sharrock has an uncredited part on Miles Davis's "A Tribute to Jack Johnson", which is easily in my top 5 Davis ablums, Sharrock holds his own playing next to John Mclaughlin, and at times tops him. After some time in retirement, Sharrock returned in the 80's with the ridulously loud punkish free jazz band Last Exit, alongside Bill Laswell, Peter Brotzzman, and Ronald Jackson. Extreme even by free jazz standards, Last Exit solidified Sharrock's position as one of the best and most adventurous Free Jazz Guitarists of all time.

Sharrock had an extremly unique approach to the guitar as well. He was enamored with Jazz Saxophone players such as Coltrane, but he was a severe asthmatic. Due to this, he considered himself, as wikipedia tells me, "a horn player with a really fucked up axe".

Sharrock was a big influence on Kim Gordon, and subsquently Sonic Youth. Especially because of his unique approach and alternative tunings.

If there are any Sharrock worshippers speak up now!

Ask The Ages - a classic.
The first Last Exit and the live stuff just shreds.

you bet

I saw him in 1989; it was pretty great.
I wish I had been aware when Last Exit came through a few years earlier. My old boss said it was the loudest show he has ever seen, and he saw the same My Bloody Valentine show that was the loudest show I have ever seen.

they were loud allright. but im sure contemporary noise and noise grind bands are louder. they were indeed the loudest free jazz band tho, and free jazz for the most part was pretty fuckin loud.

definitely appreciated. Black Woman specifically.

peter brotzmann's full blast trio was pretty fucking loud.
i have yet to hear S.S. but i will.

yes yes, a fucking genius he was!!!

His last recordings were the title music and cues for a cartoon series; he died 6 months after recording these. The opening and closing pieces are available to download from here. They're only a couple of minutes each but they're mighty fine! I have the opening track as my mobile ring tone - sounds great on when it rings on the train.

http://www.adultswim.com/downloads/index.html?CN_movieType=show&CN_show=Space%20Ghost

when he died, thurston was guest on that show (space ghost coast 3 coast) and they played pretty much all the sessions sonny did for the show in their entirety in that episode.

i cant believe this thread didnt blow up.

Have you got any of the live albums? I think atavistic re-released Koln. Also Last Exit and Noise of Trouble are mighty fine.

i DL a few of his albums
ask the age is good but monkey pockie boo is simply mind blowing
really amazing

Monkey Pockie Boo is exceptional.

I never really got into Ask The Ages, but I may need to give it another listen.