Sonny Red Performances
Sonny’s gigs were located in old issues of DownBeat magazine, gig posters, liner notes, articles and various ephemera.
1940s 1949-1954 Detroit, Michigan Sonny Red starts playing his first professional jobs with Barry Harris’ combo. Claire Roquemore- trumpet, Teeter Ford- trumpet, Tate Houston- baritone saxophone, Kiane Zawadi- euphonium ______
1950s 1954 Detroit, Michigan Sonny plays with Billie Holiday for three days while she was in Detroit. He also plays a few gigs with Miles Davis and sits in with Charlie Parker.
April-May 1954 Detroit, Michigan Klein’s Showbar 8540 Twelfth Sonny Red- tenor saxophone, Frank Rosolino- trombone (Frank Rosolino Combo)
Fall 1954 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Kiane Zawadi- euphonium, Art Blakey- drums (Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers)
March 28, 1955 Detroit, Michigan World Stage (Produced by the New Music Society) Yusef Lateef- tenor saxophone, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Bernard McKinney- euphonium, Barry Harris- piano, Alvin Jackson- bass, Elvin Jones- drums
September 1955 Detroit, Michigan Blue Bird Inn 5021 Tireman Sonny Red Benefit Concert
1 www.sonnyredmusic.com Winter/Spring 1957 Detroit, Michigan Sonny Red plays with Art Blakey and Miles Davis. He also does a number of local concerts with Barry Harris, Elvin Jones and Yusef Lateef.
August 1957 Detroit, Michigan Klein’s Showbar 8540 Twelfth Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Barry Harris- piano, Ernie Farrow- bass, Frank Gant- drums
Early 1958 Detroit, Michigan Blue Bird Inn 5021 Tireman Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Hugh Lawson- piano, Ernie Farrow- bass, Oliver Jackson- drums (International Jazz Quartet)
Early 1959 Seattle, Washington; Vancouver, British Columbia and Edmonton, Alberta Sonny Red-alto saxophone
December 1959 Greenwich Village, New York Show Place 146 West 4th Street Alfred Lion, from Blue Note Records, visits and notices Sonny Red. Sonny was sitting in with Charles Mingus. ______
1960s December 1961 Jamaica, Queens Copa City 108-20 Merrick Blvd. Sonny Red- tenor saxophone, Herb Rainey- piano, Art Taylor- drums (Herb Rainey trio)
November or December 1962 Montreal, Canada La Tete de L’Art (Montreal Jazz Society) Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Jimmy Heath- tenor saxophone, Pepper Adams- baritone saxophone
2 www.sonnyredmusic.com Late Spring/Early Summer 1963 New York, New York Birdland 1678 Broadway Donald Byrd- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Jimmy Heath- tenor saxophone (Donald Byrd Sextet)
August 25, 1963 New York, New York Village Gate 160 Bleecker Street Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Blue Mitchell- trumpet, Junior Cook- tenor saxophone, Chick Corea- piano, Gene Taylor- bass, Roy Brooks- drums
September 1963 Greenwich Village, New York Take 3 149 Bleecker Street (Disc Jockey Alan Grant from WTFM starts Sunday afternoon Jazz Train Sessions) Sonny Red- alto saxophone
August 1964 New York, New York Count Basie’s Lounge 245 Seventh Ave. Kenny Dorham- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Barry Harris- piano, Richard Davis- bass (Kenny Dorham quintet)
Early December 1964 Detroit, Michigan Bowl-o-Drome 12707 Dexter (Monday night sessions) Barry Harris- piano, Sonny Red- alto saxophone (Barry Harris-Sonny Red Quartet)
March 14, 1965 Greenwich Village, New York Café Au Go Go 152 Bleecker Street (10th anniversary of Charlie Parker’s death, jam session presented by Jim Harrison) Blue Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Richard Williams- trumpets; Lee Konitz, Jackie McLean, Charles McPherson, Sonny Red, Clarence Sharpe, Bobby Brown, John Jenkins- alto saxophones; Lucky Thompson, Joe Henderson, Hank Mobley, Roland Alexander- tenor saxophones; Cecil Payne- baritone saxophone; Benny Powell- trombone; Walter Davis Jr., Andrew Hill, Barry Harris, Paul Neves- pianists; Kenny Burrell- guitar; Bob
3 www.sonnyredmusic.com Cranshaw, John Ore- bassists; Clifford Jarvis, Frankie Dunlop, Walter Perkins- drums; Betty Carter- vocals
March 21, 1965 East Baltimore, Maryland Famous Ballroom 1717 North Charles Street (Left Bank Jazz Society Sunday afternoon concerts) Blue Mitchell- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Claude Hubbard- piano, Phil Harris- bass, Harold White- drums
April 1965 Greenwich Village, New York Café Au Go Go 152 Bleecker Street (Jazz and Comedy Festival) Freddie Hubbard- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Jimmy Heath- tenor saxophone, Wynton Kelly- piano, Paul Chambers- bass, Jimmy Cobb- drums (House Band)
April 25, 1965 East Baltimore, Maryland Murphy Fine Arts Center at Morgan State College (Left Bank Jazz Society Sunday afternoon concerts) Kenny Dorham- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Jimmy Heath- tenor saxophone, Pepper Adams- baritone saxophone, Cedar Walton- piano, Reggie Workman- bass, Roy Brooks- Drums
June 14 1965 New York, New York Village Gate 160 Bleecker Street (A Benefit for Ed Sherman who wrote for Downbeat. The event was organized by Ira Gitler) Carmell Jones- trumpet; Phil Woods, Charles McPherson, Sonny Red- alto saxophones; Jimmy Heath- tenor saxophone; Pepper Adams, Gerry Mulligan- baritone saxophones; Benny Powell- trombone; Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris- pianists; Joe Benjamin, Jimmy Garrison- bassists; Eddie Locke, Hugh Walker, Walker Perkins- drums; Joe Williams- vocals; Henry Youngman and Soupy Sales- comedians, The Modern Jazz Quartet, The Clark Terry-Bob Brookmeyer Quintet (Clark Terry- trumpet, Bob Brookmeyer- trombone, Roger Kellaway- piano, Bill Crow- bass, Dave Bailey- drums)
September 19, 1965 East Baltimore, Maryland Lyric Theatre (Left Bank Jazz Society Sunday afternoon concerts)
4 www.sonnyredmusic.com Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Dizzy Reece- trumpet, Barry Harris- piano, Gene Taylor- bass, Frank Gant- drums
December 1965 Detroit, Michigan Bowl-o-Drome 12707 Dexter Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Barry Harris- piano, Ernie Farrow- bass, Roy Brooks- drums
Late 1965-Early 1966 Detroit, Michigan Bowl-o-Drome 12707 Dexter Dizzy Reese- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Barry Harris- piano
January 22, 1966 New York, New York School of the Visual Arts 209 East 23rd Street Kenny Dorham- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone (Kenny Dorham Quintet)
March 10, 1966 Queens, New York Club Ruby (Memorial Tribute 11th anniversary of Charlie Parker’s death) Jackie McLean, Charles McPherson, Sonny Red, James Spaulding, Gary Bartz, Bobby Brown, Clarence Sharpe- alto saxophonists
March 1966 Baltimore, Maryland Forest Manor (The Jazz Society for Performing Artists) Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Barry Harris- piano
March 20, 1966 Baltimore, Maryland Crystal Ballroom on North Avenue Blue Mitchell- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, John Hicks- piano, Gene Taylor- bass, Joe Chambers- drums
October 1966 Chicago, Illinois Plugged Nickel North Wells Street (2 week engagement)
5 www.sonnyredmusic.com Donald Byrd- trumpet, Sonny Red- saxophone, Ronnie Mathews- piano, Jimmy Garrison- bass, Melvin Jackson- bass (replaces Garrison on the second week) Joe Chambers- drums
November 1966 New York, New York Five Spot Third Avenue and East 7th Street Donald Byrd- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, George Coleman- tenor saxophone, drums- Freddie Waits
November-Early December 1966 Detroit, Michigan Masonic Temple 632 East Livingston Street Donald Byrd- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Kirk Lightsey- piano, James Hankins- bass, Bert Myrick- drums.
January-February 1967 New York, New York Five Spot Third Avenue and East 7th Street Donald Byrd- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone
March 16, 1967 New York, New York Club Ruby (Charlie Parker memorial session) James Spaulding, Sonny Red- alto saxophones, Booker Ervin, Joe Henderson- tenor saxophones, Barry Harris- piano, Paul Chambers- bass, Philly Joe Jones- drums, Benny Powell- producer-emcee
October 3-8, 1967 New York, New York Slugs 242 East 3rd Street Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Tommy Turrentine- trumpet, Bobby Timmons- piano (Sonny Red Quintet)
Fall 1967 New York, New York East Village Inn 101 Avenue (Jazz on a Sunday afternoon) Bobby Timmons- piano, Sonny Red- alto saxophone (Bobby Timmons- Sonny Red Quartet)
December 1967 Toronto, Ontario
6 www.sonnyredmusic.com The Park Plaza Hotel Donald Byrd- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Albert Daley- piano, Wilber Little- bass, Jimmy Cobb- drums (Donald Byrd Quintet)
December 4, 1967 Detroit, Michigan Masonic Temple 632 East Livingston Street Donald Byrd- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Joe Thurman- tenor saxophone, John Hair- trombone, Teddy Harris- tenor saxophone, Ernie Farrow- bass, Bill Hardy- drums (Ernie Farrow’s Quintet- Sonny Red and Donald Byrd sat in)
February 11, 1968 Baltimore, Maryland Famous Ballroom (Left Bank Jazz Society Sunday afternoon concerts) Milt Jackson- vibes, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Bob Cranshaw- bass, Leo Morris- drums
February-March 1968 New York, New York Slugs 242 East 3rd Street (Jazz on a Saturday Afternoon, produced by Jim Harrison and Ernie Jackson) Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Bobby Timmons- piano, Evelyn Blakey- voice (Sonny Red-Bobby Timmons Quartet)
April 1968 New York, New York Red Garter 15 West 4th Street (Jazz Interactions Sunday afternoon session) Kenny Dorham- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Cedar Walton- piano
September 1968 New Jersey Garden State Plaza Shopping Center (Summer Concert Series) Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Blue Mitchell- trumpet, Bobby Timmons- piano, Walter Booker- bass, Leo Morris- drums (Sonny Red-Blue Mitchell Quintet)
Early Fall 1968 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Show Boat Jazz Theatre
7 www.sonnyredmusic.com Bobby Timmons- piano, Sonny Red- alto saxophone (Bobby Timmons group)
December 15, 1968 New York, New York Minton’s Playhouse 210 West 118th Street (Barry Harris’ birthday party) Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Tommy Flanagan- piano, Gene Taylor- bass, Roy Brooks Candy Finch and Eddie Locke- drums
December 31, 1968 Detroit, Michigan Bowl-o-Drome 120707 Dexter Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Joe Thurman- tenor saxophone, Teddy Harris- tenor saxophone, Ernie Farrow- bass, James Youngblood, drums (Ernie Farrow Quintet)
March 10, 1969 New York, New York Club Ruby (Fourth annual memorial tribute to Charlie Parker) Charles McPherson, Gary Bartz, James Spaulding, Sonny Red, Monty Waters- alto saxophone ______
1970s March, 1970 Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn benefit for the Defense of the Panthers 21 legal fund McCoy Tyner- piano, Gary Bartz- alto saxophone, Freddie Waits- drums (McCoy Tyner Quartet), Frank Foster’s Dirty Dozen, Freddie Hubbard- trumpet, Curtis Fuller- trombone, James Spaulding- alto saxophone, Cedar Walton- piano, Bob Cunningham- bass, Freddie Waits- drums (Freddie Hubbard Sextet), Lee Morgan- trumpet, Jackie Mclean, Charles Davis, Sonny Red- alto saxophones, Roland Alexander, Archie Shepp- tenor saxophones, Kiane Zawadi- trombone, Wayne Dockery- piano, Charlie Haden, Reggie Workman- basses, J.C. Moses, Sunny Murray, Rasheid Ali- drummers, Betty Carter- vocals, Stu Isakoff, Eddie Gale- guitars
June 19, 1970 New York, New York Jazz Concert Afloat (Boat Concert) Pharaoh Sanders Group, Freddie Hubbard Group, McCoy Tyner Group, Ro-Mas Orchestra. Jam session: Cal Massey- trumpet, Gary Bartz, Jackie
8 www.sonnyredmusic.com Mclean, Sonny Red- alto saxophones, Archie Shepp- tenor saxophone, Curtis Fuller- trombone, Cedar Walton- piano, Reggie Workman- bass, Sunny Murray- drums
July 24, 1970 New York, New York Marc Ballroom 27 Union Square West at 16th Street (Memorial tribute to Charlie Parker presented by Jazz Spotlight Productions) James Moody, Charles McPherson, Gary Bartz, Sonny Red, James Spaulding, C-Sharpe, Monty Waters- alto saxophones
August 25-30, 1970 New York, New York Slugs 242 East 3rd Street Donald Byrd- trumpet, Sonny Red- alto saxophone (Donald Byrd Quintet)
September 28, 1970 New York, New York Lorelei (Memorial Tribute to Booker Ervin) Richard Williams, Kenny Dorham, Jimmy Owens, Ray Copeland- trumpets; Rashaan Roland Kirk, Ernie Wilkins- saxophones; Sonny Red, Bobby Brown- alto saxophones; Eddie Harris, Bill Barron, Bobby Jones- tenor saxophones; Cecil Payne- baritone saxophone; Billy Taylor, Toshiko Akioshi, Monty Alexander, Ray Bryant, Chris White, Warren Chiasson, Horace Parlan- pianists; Peck Morrison, Bob Cranshaw- bassists; Roy Brooks, J.C. Moses, Walter Perkins- drums; Michael Shepard, Aubrey Welch, Ruth Brisbane- vocals
December 1970 Harlem, New York Diggs Den 145 Street and Bradhurst (Birthday party for Barry Harris) Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Pepper Adams- baritone saxophone, Barry Harris- piano, James Jefferson- bass and Larry Hancock- drums (Barry Harris Trio with Guests Sonny Red and Pepper Adams)
Late Spring 1971 New York, New York Negro Ensemble Company Theatre (The Black Experience Family) Sonny Red- alto saxophone, Harold Vick- tenor saxophone, Joe Bonner- piano, arranger, Mickey Bass- bass, Omar Clay- drums
9 www.sonnyredmusic.com Spring 1972 New York, New York Pee Wee’s Sonny Red- alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, Barry Harris- piano, Herbie Lewis- bass, Billy Higgins- drums
April 18, 1972 New York, New York Playboy Charles Sullivan, Stan Shafran- trumpets, Chris Woods, Sonny Red, Howard Leshaw, Larry Charles- reeds, Tom Malone, Charley Sharman- trombones, Duke Jordan- piano, Kyoshi- bass, Dave Gilman- drums, Joe Carroll- vocals (Howard McGhee Big Band)
October 1, 1972 Brooklyn, New York ID Club (Benefit concert for Kenny Dorham organized by Charles Davis and Bill Hardman) Tommy Turrentine, Charles Tolliver, Eddie Preston- trumpets, Jimmy Heath, Pat Patrick, Sonny Red, Zane Masey- saxophones, Kenny Barron, Barry Harris, Ronnie Mathews, Harold Mabern, Cedar Walton- pianists, Bill Lee, Ahmad Abdul Malik, Wilbur Ware, Roland Wilson, Hakim Jami- bassists, Billy Higgins, Al Heath, Al Harewood, Al Drears- drums, Etta Jones, Stella Marrs, Waheeda Massey- vocals
April 27-29, 1973 Seaford, Long Island Sonny’s Place 3603 Merrick Road Sonny Red- alto, tenor saxophone (Sonny Red Quartet)
April 8, 1974 Hicksville, New York Charlie K’s Sonny Red- alto, tenor saxophone
December 31, 1976 New York, New York M. Ellson Gallery 463 West Broadway (Axis in SoHo) Sonny Red- alto saxophone
December 9, 1979 Detroit, Michigan
10 www.sonnyredmusic.com M.U.S.I.C. Station 2757 Grand River (A benefit concert for musician- composer Sonny Redd) Marcus Belgrave and the New Detroit Jazz Ensemble, Claude Black, Alan Barnes, Roy Brooks and The Artistic Truth, Malvin-McCray and The Creative Element, Ocean, Rebirth Featuring Wendell Harrison and Harold McKinney, Sam Sanders and Visions, Donald Towns D-FACE Players featuring Naima Shamboiguer, The ii V I Orchestra, Harold Vick, Lamonte Hamilton, Hastings Street Experience, Yusef Lateef, Paul Leonord- master of ceremonies, Food by O.S.W.R Inc. ______
1980s June 6-7, 1980 Detroit, Michigan The Music Station 2757 Grand River (M.U.S.I.C. Musicians United to Save Indigenous Culture) Sonny Redd- tenor saxophone and flute, Teddy Harris- Piano, Malvin Jackson- bass, Lawrence Williams- drums, Malvin McCray- tenor saxophone (special guest)
11 www.sonnyredmusic.com