Sunny Murray (album)

Sunny Murray, also known as Sunny Murray Quintet, is an album by American free jazz drummer Sunny Murray, his second as a leader. It was recorded in New York City in January, 1966, and released on the ESP-Disk label.[1] The album features Murray on drums along with alto saxophonists Byard Lancaster and Jack Graham, trumpeter Jacques Coursil, and bassist Alan Silva. A remastered version, which includes an interview between Murray and ESP founder Bernard Stollman, was issued by ESP-Disk in 2007.[2][3]

Sunny Murray
Studio album by
Sunny Murray
Released1966
RecordedJanuary 1966
StudioNew York City
GenreFree jazz
Length41:01
LabelESP-Disk 1032
Sunny Murray chronology
Sonny's Time Now
(1965)		 Sunny Murray
(1966)		 Sunshine
(1969)

According to Murray, he used a thirty-six-inch bass drum on the album "because there's something about that instrument that homogenizes the group."[4] Murray recalled that he met Coursil at a restaurant after saxophonist Clarence Sharpe recommended that he speak with the dishwasher: "There's a cat works in the kitchen. He's pretty good, Murray. You ought to check him out."[4]

Following the release of the album, Murray was awarded DownBeat magazine's "New Star" award in the drum category.[5] When he learned that the award did not involve a cash component, Murray went to DownBeat offices and "revolted": "I took some paper from the secretary's trash can, and I made a bonfire on the floor and I started to burn my Downbeat award. The secretary called the police. There was smoke everywhere, and Don [DeMichael, Editor] came out of the office throwing water on the fire..."[6]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz[8]

In a review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow awarded Sunny Murray 4.5 stars, and wrote: "the band is fairly coherent but also full of fire and chance-taking solos. In ways, this is a typical ESP free-form blowing session, and certainly will be most enjoyed by open-eared listeners."[7] The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 3 stars, calling it Murray's "real coming-out as a leader" and "pretty uncompromising fare."[8] Writing for All About Jazz, Jerry D'Souza commented: "The music is intense, but it is also passionate... [it] ferments, roils, and fascinates."[9]

Track listing

Tracks 1, 2, and 4 by Sunny Murray. Track 3 by Jacques Coursil.

  1. "Phase 1,2,3,4" – 9:45
  2. "Hilariously" – 11:12
  3. "Angels And Devils" – 11:09
  4. "Giblet" – 8:55

Personnel

Production
  • David Hancock – engineer
  • Ray Gibson – cover photo
  • J. Dillon – art director

References
  1. "Sunny Murray: Sunny Murray". ESP-Disk. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  2. "Sunny Murray: Sunny Murray". ESP-Disk. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  3. "Sunny Murray: Sunny Murray: Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  4. Weiss, Jason (2012). Always in Trouble: An Oral History of ESP-Disk, the Most Outrageous Record Label in America. Wesleyan University Press. p. 257.
  5. Russonello, Giovanni (December 14, 2017). "Sunny Murray, Influential Free-Jazz Drummer, Is Dead at 81". NY Times. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  6. Warburton, Dan (November 3, 2000). "Sunny Murray Interview". Paris Transatlantic. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  7. Yanow, Scott. "Sunny Murray: Sunny Murray". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  8. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2006). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin Books. p. 968.
  9. D'Souza, Jerry (July 11, 2008). "Sunny Murray: Sunny Murray". All About Jazz. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
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