FEBRUARY 24

SONNY CRISS

                         Crisscraft

                        Recording Date:
                             February 24, 1975

                        Personnel:
                             Dolo Coker       P
                             Ray Crawford   G
                             Sonny Criss       AS
                             Larry Gales       B
                             Jimmie Smith   D 

                     LINK

Review by Scott Yanow
This is one of the very best Sonny Criss albums. The distinctive altoist, who is here joined by guitarist Ray Crawford, pianist Dolo Coker, bassist Larry Gales, and drummer Jimmie Smith, is in prime form on a lengthy "The Isle of Celia," Benny Carter's "Blues in My Heart," the boppish blues "Crisscraft," and two shorter pieces. Criss, who had not recorded as a leader in six years, was really ready for this session, making this his definitive set to get. The CD reissue adds an alternate version of "Blues in My Heart" plus a slightly later version of "Out of Nowhere" to the original (and memorable) program.