Is Sonny Fortune Still Playing?

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I have been lucky in that I have been able to catch Sonny Fortune the last few times he came through Boston. He was still at the top of his game. It's been quite a while since I've seen his name listed anywhere and his booking agency doesn't have any dates listed for him since Nov. 2014. Has Sonny retired or have I just been looking for him in the wrong places?

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

i didnt go but he played here very recently, maybe last spring

[kh1958]

I found a few listings for 2015 performances on the internet.

 

"Four Generations of Miles" Jimmy Cobb, Mike Stern, Buster Williams, Sonny Fortune

Wed, June 17, 2015

Doors: 7:30 pm / Show: 8:30 pm

Birdland

New York, NY

 

Sonny Fortune Quartet
Ninth Annual Lancaster Avenue Jazz Festival
Philadelphia, PA
July 18, 2015

 

Masters Class "Sonny Fortune & Clef Club Summer Workshop Performance" organized by the 2nd Annual Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival, the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts & Producer's Guild

People's Emergency Center (PEC)

Friday, July 17, 2015 from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM (EDT)

Philadelphia, PA

[HutchFan]

Good to hear that Sonny's still on the scene. Great musician!!!  

[Justin V]

I saw Sonny at the double bill with Buster Williams' group in November and I am glad that I did.  He still burns the place down.  I wish that he toured more, and it is a shame that one of the local venues hasn't brought him to town.  His excellent band when I last saw him consisted of Michael Cochrane, David Williams and Steve Johns.  On Cochrane's itinerary, he lists a Jersey City date with Sonny scheduled for the 17th.

[kh1958]

That's the same band I saw at Sweet Rhythm in 2008--I heard three sets and it wasn't enough. It appears it's been six years (2009) since his last CD, Last Night at Sweet Rhythm.

Edited October 1, 2015 by kh1958

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I saw Sonny at the double bill with Buster Williams' group in November and I am glad that I did.  He still burns the place down.  I wish that he toured more, and it is a shame that one of the local venues hasn't brought him to town.  His excellent band when I last saw him consisted of Michael Cochrane, David Williams and Steve Johns.  On Cochrane's itinerary, he lists a Jersey City date with Sonny scheduled for the 17th.

Great news! I looked around and couldn't find any listings for upcoming shows so I was wondering if he was retired.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

It looks like Sonny is still touring. His website has been updated to include some 2016 dates:

2016
FEB 14 Sunday	Half Moon Bay, CA	DOUGLAS BEACH HOUSE - Quartet - Tickets TBA With Theo Saunders, piano; Henry Franklin, bass; Marvin "Smitty" Smith, drums For the BACH DYNAMITE & DANCING SOCIETY
FEB 16 Tuesday	Seattle, WA	JAZZ ALLEY- Quartet - Tickets With Theo Saunders, piano; Henry Franklin, bass; Marvin "Smitty" Smith, drums
FEB 17 Wednesday	Seattle, WA	JAZZ ALLEY- Quartet - Tickets With Theo Saunders, piano; Henry Franklin, bass; Marvin "Smitty" Smith, drums
FEB 18 Thursday	Portland, OR	JIMMY MAK'S - Quartet With Theo Saunders, piano; Henry Franklin, bass; Marvin "Smitty" Smith, drums For the PORTLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL - Tickets
FEB 19 Friday	Portland, OR	JIMMY MAK'S ALAN JONES, with AZAR LAWRENCE and SONNY FORTUNE and JONATHAN LAKEY A TRIBUTE TO ELVIN JONES For the PORTLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL - Tickets

[sidewinder]

Those Jazz Alley dates look very interesting. Henry Franklin on bass as well - wow.

[Gheorghe]

with Azar Lawrence, that might be a kind of Alumni from Davis´ ´74, ´75 bands Dark Magus , Aghartha, Pangeea....