Newbury author’s biography delves into jazz pianist extraordinaire Sonny Clark who lived hard and died young
IN his latest book, Newbury author and jazz enthusiast Derek Ansell looks at the life of quintessentially hard bop pianist and composer Sonny Clark (1931- 1963) who was never given his due before he died of a heroin overdose in New York.
Sonny Clark was a unique jazz pianist. Totally original, he never sounded like any other jazz pianist and no other piano player ever sounded like him.
Clark was a brilliant jazz pianist not appreciated in his lifetime except by other musicians.
Since his tragic early death he has become a jazz icon in the UK, US and particularly in Japan.
His newly re-released albums on Blue Note sell like hot cakes today. “At last,” says Derek.
“I wanted to tell his whole, true story, warts included.
“Clark was an ideal soloist and accompanist and composer. Very gifted. Very late bloomer. And, of course, he was one of my favourite jazz pianists.”
Sonny Clark – Fragile Virtuoso is his story; the musicians he worked and recorded with included Rollins, Coltrane, Gordon and many others.
The biography delves into his collaborations with iconic musicians, his struggles with addiction, and his close bond with the jazz baroness Nica and her tireless efforts to help him and get him off the debilitating drugs that were destroying him.
It looks at the crazy New York loft jazz scene and his friends there, his unique gift as a jazz pianist and everything that went with it, including his ending and the ultimate tragedy.
His life was like many other jazz musicians who lived hard and died young.
“The difference lies in the precise way he lived, his success as an improvising musician, and the obstacles that played a huge part in his life – and the final twist of fate at the end of his life,” Derek explains.
Sonny Clark – Fragile Virtuoso is published in paperback, priced £20.49, available from Amazon, Waterstones, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Apple and all good distributors.
Besides his novels, Derek Ansell is also the author of the biography tenor saxophonist and composer Hank Mobley [1930-1986] Workout: The Music of Hank Mobley.
He was one of a relatively short list of great tenor saxophonists; innovative, creative jazz musicians who not only had a distinctive sound but contributed immensely to the development and evolution of the music.
In order to rectify Mobley’s underrated, overlooked, underappreciated position, Derek extensively examines and details all of Hank’s recordings as both a sideman and as a leader.
TRISH LEE
