Ira Sullivan

[Chuck Nessa]

Just got off the phone with Ira. I called him because I hadn't heard from him for a while and the last time was about surgery. I had been worried about his health and it turns out he is more vigorous than I. Keep on keeping on Ira. He will be 87 in a few weeks.

Edited March 10, 2018 by Chuck Nessa

[JSngry]

Is he still in florida?

[Chuck Nessa]

Yes, and recovering from implants. He is ready to go.

 

[jlhoots]

Implants???

[Chuck Nessa]

teeth - big thing for wind players.

[Ken Dryden]

They sound so easy until you learn about how drawn out the process is, even for one.

[jlhoots]

Expensive too!

[Joe]

Long live Ira Sullivan!

 

[Justin V]

I'm glad to hear he is doing well.

[bertrand]

I second That! Thanks for checking in with him, Chuck.

[Clunky]

That’s good to hear. He’s a great talent 

[Chuck Nessa]

Ira called today and we talked for about 20 minutes. He's had one side of his mouth "implanted" and will have the other side done soon. He can play saxophone and flute currently but needs the dental work to work on the trumpet (his favorite).

He will be 88 soon and just keeps on truckin'.

[paul secor]

Good for him. (And for us.)

[Hardbopjazz]

Good for him.  Glad he’s still going strong.  

[Chuck Nessa]

Just got off the phone with Ira again.  He is doing well, going for 88. What a wonderful spirit!

[Brad]

Glad to hear. Is he able to play trumpet?

[Chuck Nessa]

24 minutes ago, Brad said:

Glad to hear. Is he able to play trumpet?

Duh! I didn't think to ask. He was very "up".

[mrjazzman]

On 3/9/2018 at 4:56 PM, Chuck Nessa said:

Yes, and recovering from implants. He is ready to go.

 

I'm going through it at 69, painful, expensive, drawn out process, can't eat, lost weight.  OH well............

[jazzcorner]

Re: Ira Sullivan

OK played this one today

 

 

Edited December 13, 2019 by jazzcorner

[Rabshakeh]

I was listening to Red Rodney's Savoy record 1957 (AKA Fiery, AKA The Red Arrow), off the back of a recent post by @Chuck Nessa of that record on the now playing thread. 

I'm struck by how advanced Sullivan's playing is on that record. It's crazy to think that it came out in 1957. What did that music sound like to an audience back then? Or to the other players, Rodney included?

[Niko]

Iirc Larry Kart has written here more than once about how Ira Sullivan was one of the top tenorists in a brief time window in the mid fifties... (a sentiment that I share, but i wasn't around) Generally, i have the feeling there's this semi-lost generation of artists who did their best work in the years right before Kind of Blue and the rest of 1959... (the classical Hampton Hawes Trio comes to mind as well, e.g.)

[Rabshakeh]

20 minutes ago, Niko said:

Iirc Larry Kart has written here more than once about how Ira Sullivan was one of the top tenorists in a brief time window in the mid fifties... (a sentiment that I share, but i wasn't around) Generally, i have the feeling there's this semi-lost generation of artists who did their best work in the years right before Kind of Blue and the rest of 1959... (the classical Hampton Hawes Trio comes to mind as well, e.g.)

That's an interesting point. Lots of great musicians do seem to get lost in the shuffle at precisely that point in time - Gigi Gryce is one who pops into mind.

[danasgoodstuff]

Lots of interesting musicians and music get overlooked all the time, but especially at stylistic turning points.

[Rabshakeh]

Sure.

Anyway, Sullivan's music on that record would sound natural on a record from 1967. It must have stood out in 1957.

That's a bit different to e.g. Gryce or Hawes.

[JSngry]

Ira at that time had an already advanced/personal take on Sonny Rollins, and in a time when people were trying to have ANY kind of a take on Sonny Rollins. At least that's how it strikes me.