Sonny Fortune

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His first long-term gig was with Mongo Santamaria, which was followed by two and a half years with McCoy Tyner.

In ’74, he got the call from Miles and a year later he debuted as a leader with his album “Awakening.” Over the years, Fortune has also been much in demand as a sideman, featured by Dizzy Gillespie, Elvin Jones, Oliver Nelson, George Benson, and Nat Adderly.

He replaced Dave Liebman in Miles Davis’ band in 1974 and is featured on the albums “Get Up With It,” “Agharta,” and “Pangaea.”

In 1975, Fortune left the Davis assembly, briefly playing with Nat Adderley before forming his own group in June of that year.

Sonny Fortune went on to release two albums as a leader, “Awakening” and “Waves of Dreams,” on the Horizon label and continued to perform, joining the “Coltrane Legacy Band” with McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and Reggie Workman in 1987.

He began his most productive period as a solo artist in the 1990s, recording several LPs for Blue Note, including “Four in One” (1994), “A Better Understanding” (1995), and “From Now On” (1996).

Since 2000, Fortune has continued to record and tour, giving performances around the globe.

The “Sonny Fortune Quartet” performed in Paris at the Duc des Lombards jazz club in July 2009.

Personnel:

Sonny Fortune – alto sax
Kirk Lightsey – piano
Wayne Dockery – bass
Steve Johns – drums

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