- Sonny Greenwich
Sonny Greenwich was born in
Hamilton, Ontario on New Years Day of 1936. [ [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0001441 Greenwich, Sonny ] ] He is a CanadianAvant-garde jazz guitarist . He has played in major Canadian and American cities including a concert atCarnegie Hall . He has performed with such 'greats' as Charles Lloyd,Wayne Shorter ,Pharoah Sanders ,McCoy Tyner ,Chick Corea ,John Handy andSun Ra . Sonny Greenwich first drew notice for his style in 1959 inToronto, Ontario . which were followed dates in Montreal. The year 1965 saw him inNew York City at TheVillage Gate with saxophonist Charles Lloyd. Greenwich's reputation, grew by word of mouth, bringing him to the attention of John Handy, with whom he played from December 1966 through March 1967 inSeattle ,San Francisco and New York.Columbia Records released their concert appearance as Spirituals to Swing. It was also at this time that Greenwich recorded the album Third Season, with saxophonistHank Mobley , onBlue Note Records . [ [http://www.kleo-records.com/ Sonny Greenwich on Kleo Records! ] ]The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz states that 'Some critics regard Greenwich as the most important Canadian jazzman'.He is listed as one of the '10 Best Canadian Jazz Musicians of All Time' in the Canadian Book of Lists, and in the 'The History of the guitar in jazz'
Barney Kessel writes, 'There is a deep emotion and sincerity in Sonny's music ... and I consider him a really rare kind of talent.' Greenwich's prominence has him written up in the Canadian Encyclopedia; and the Jazz in Canada.His own Quartet
In 1968, Sonny Greenwich led his own quartet, of pianist Teddy Saunders, bassist
Jimmy Garrison and drummer Jack DeJohnette at theVillage Vanguard in New York. In December 1969 Greenwich performed withMiles Davis , Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea,Dave Holland andTony Williams at the Colonial Tavern in Toronto. The following year, Greenwich's own group opened for the Miles Davis band atMassey Hall .The Order of Canada
In 2006, he was made a Member of the
Order of Canada . The Order of Canada is awarded to Canadians who have made a recognizable difference to the country. The honour, which is the highest in Canada, was established in 1967 to recognize extraordinary Canadians and their achievements.External links
* [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0001441 Sonny Greenwich] at
The Canadian Encyclopedia
* [http://www.kleo-records.com/ Sonny Greenwich on Kleo Records]
* [http://www.myspace.com/sonnygreenwich/ Sonny Greenwich on MySpace]References
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