Norris Jones, better known as Sirone (September 28, 1940 Sirone biography

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Music ...

– October 21, 2009) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

bassist A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboard bass or a low b ...

and composer.

Biography

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Sirone worked in Atlanta late in the 1950s and early in the 1960s with "The Group" alongside George Adams; he also recorded with R&B musicians such as

Sam Cooke Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an American singer and songwriter. Considered to be a pioneer and one of the most influential soul music, soul artists of all time, Cooke is common ...

and

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive director. He was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief ...

. In 1966, in response to a call from Marion Brown, he moved to New York City, where he co-founded the "Untraditional Jazz Improvisational Team" with

Dave Burrell Herman Davis "Dave" Burrell (born September 10, 1940) is an American jazz pianist. He has played with many jazz musicians including Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders, Marion Brown and David Murray. Biography Born in Middletown, Ohio, United ...

. He also worked with

Brown Brown is a color. It can be considered a composite color, but it is mainly a darker shade of orange. In the CMYK color model used in printing or painting, brown is usually made by combining the colors orange and black. In the RGB color model ...

, Gato Barbieri,

Pharoah Sanders Pharoah Sanders (born Ferrell Lee Sanders; October 13, 1940 – September 24, 2022) was an American jazz saxophonist. Known for his overblowing, harmonic, and multiphonic techniques on the saxophone, as well as his use of " sheets of sound", ...

Noah Howard Noah Howard (April 6, 1943 – September 3, 2010) was an American free jazz alto saxophonist. Biography Born in New Orleans, Howard played music from childhood in his church. He first learned trumpet and later switched to alto, tenor and sopran ...

Sonny Sharrock Warren Harding "Sonny" Sharrock (August 27, 1940 – May 25, 1994) was an American jazz guitarist. He was married to singer Linda Sharrock, with whom he recorded and performed. One of only a few prominent guitarists who participated in the fir ...

, Sunny Murray,

Albert Ayler Albert Ayler (; July 13, 1936 – November 25, 1970) was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist, singer and composer. After early experience playing R&B and bebop, Ayler began recording music during the free jazz era of the 1960s. Howev ...

Archie Shepp Archie Shepp (born May 24, 1937) is an American jazz saxophonist, educator and playwright who since the 1960s has played a central part in the development of avant-garde jazz. Biography Early life Shepp was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but ...

, and

Sun Ra Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific ou ...

, as well as with

John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Born and raise ...

when he was near the end of his career. He co-founded the Revolutionary Ensemble with Leroy Jenkins and Frank Clayton in 1971;

Jerome Cooper Jerome Douglas Cooper (December 14, 1946 – May 6, 2015) was an American free jazz musician. In addition to trap drums, Cooper played balafon, chirimia and various electronic instruments, and referred to himself as a "multi-dimensional drummer," ...

later replaced Clayton in the ensemble, which was active for much of the decade. In the 1970s and early 1980s Sirone recorded with

Clifford Thornton Clifford Edward Thornton III (September 6, 1936 – November 25, 1989) was an American jazz trumpeter, trombonist, activist, and educator. He played free jazz and avant-garde jazz in the 1960s and '70s. Career Clifford was born in Philadelphia. ...

, Roswell Rudd,

Dewey Redman Walter Dewey Redman (May 17, 1931 – September 2, 2006) was an American saxophonist who performed free jazz as a bandleader and with Ornette Coleman and Keith Jarrett. Redman mainly played tenor saxophone, though he occasionally also played al ...

Cecil Taylor Cecil Percival Taylor (March 25, 1929April 5, 2018) was an American pianist and poet. Taylor was classically trained and was one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an energetic, physical approach, resulting in complex ...

, and

Walt Dickerson Walter Roland Dickerson (April 16, 1928 – May 15, 2008) was an American jazz vibraphone player, most associated with the post-bop idiom. Biography Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Walt Dickerson graduated from Morgan State U ...

. In the 1980s, he was member of

Phalanx The phalanx ( grc, φάλαγξ; plural phalanxes or phalanges, , ) was a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar pole weapons. The term is particularly ...

, a group with guitarist James "Blood" Ulmer, drummer

Rashied Ali Rashied Ali, born Robert Patterson (July 1, 1933 – August 12, 2009) was an American free jazz and avant-garde drummer best known for playing with John Coltrane in the last years of Coltrane's life. Biography Early life Patterson was born and ...

, and tenor saxophonist George Adams. From 1989, he lived in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitu ...

, Germany, where he was active with his group 'Concord' (with Ben Abarbanel-Wolff and Ulli Bartel.) He was involved in theater, film, and was a practicing Buddhist. He died on October 21, 2009, at the age of 69.

Discography

As leader or co-leader

*1979: '' Artistry'' (Of The Cosmos) with James Newton, Don Moye, Muneer Bernard Fennell * 1982: ''

Life Rays ''Life Rays'' is an album by vibraphonist Walt Dickerson, bassist Sirone, and drummer Andrew Cyrille. Dickerson's final release, it was recorded in Italy in 1982 for the Soul Note label. Reception AllMusic gave the album 3 stars.Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz. History Black S ...

) with

Andrew Cyrille Andrew Charles Cyrille (born November 10, 1939) is an American avant-garde jazz drummer. Throughout his career, he has performed both as a leader and a sideman in the bands of Walt Dickerson and Cecil Taylor, among others. AllMusic biographer ...

* 2003: ''

Sirone's Concord ''Sirone's Concord'' is an album by bassist Sirone, his second as a leader. It was recorded in June, 2003, at Das Tonstudio 24 in Berlin, and was released later that year by Not Two Records. On the album, Sirone is joined by saxophonist Ben Abarban ...

'' (Not Two Records) * 2005: ''

Live Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film *'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD) Music * Live (band), American alternative rock band * List of album ...

'' (

Atavistic Records Atavistic Records is an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois, known for its no wave and free jazz recordings. Atavistic has released albums by Glenn Branca, Nels Cline, Lydia Lunch, Peter Brötzmann, Ken Vandermark, Pinetop Seven, Sw ...

) * 2005: ''

Configuration Configuration or configurations may refer to: Computing * Computer configuration or system configuration * Configuration file, a software file used to configure the initial settings for a computer program * Configurator, also known as choice bo ...

'' (

Silkheart Records Silkheart Records is a Swedish record company and label dedicated to improvised music and free jazz. Lars-Olof Gustavsson and Keith Knox founded Silkheart in 1985. In 1991, Jimmy Johnson of Forced Exposure suggested that Silkheart "could easily ...

) with

Billy Bang Billy Bang (September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer. Biography Bang's family moved to New York City's Bronx neighborhood while he was still an infant, and as a ...

With the Revolutionary Ensemble * 1972: ''

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making ...

'' ( ESP-Disk) * 1972: ''

Manhattan Cycles ''Manhattan Cycles'' is a live album by the Revolutionary Ensemble, violinist Leroy Jenkins, bassist Sirone and drummer Jerome Cooper, which was recorded on the last day of 1972 and released on the India Navigation label the following year. The al ...

'' (

India Navigation India Navigation was an American record company and independent record label that specialized in avant-garde jazz in the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded by Bob Cummins, a corporate lawyer who helped jazz musicians with legal matters. Its catalogu ...

) * 1975: '' The Psyche'' (RE Records) * 1976: '' The Peoples Republic'' ( A&M/Horizon) * 1977: '' Revolutionary Ensemble'' ( Enja) * 2004: '' And Now...'' ( Pi Recordings) * 2008: ''

Beyond the Boundary of Time ''Beyond the Boundary of Time'' is a live album by the Revolutionary Ensemble, violinist Leroy Jenkins, bassist Sirone and drummer Jerome Cooper. It was recorded in May 2005 in Warsaw, Poland, and was released in 2008 by Mutable Music. The album c ...

'' (Mutable) * 2012: '' Counterparts'' (Mutable) With Sabir Mateen and Andrew Barker * 2013: ''Infinite Flowers'' (Sagittarius A-Star) With

Oluyemi Thomas Oluyemi Thomas (born August 16, 1952) is a free jazz bass clarinetist and saxophonist. Thomas was born in Detroit, Michigan. He began playing clarinet as a child, and was exposed to the music of Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie, ...

and Michael Wimberly * 2010: ''

Beneath Tones Floor ''Beneath Tones Floor'' is a live album by reed player Oluyemi Thomas, bassist Sirone, and drummer Michael Wimberly recorded at the Brecht Forum in New York City in 2008. It was released in 2010 by NoBusiness Records. Reception In a review for ...

'' (NoBusiness Records)

As sideman

With George Adams * 1989: ''

Nightingale The common nightingale, rufous nightingale or simply nightingale (''Luscinia megarhynchos''), is a small passerine bird best known for its powerful and beautiful song. It was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is no ...

'' (

Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical c ...

) With The All Ear Trio (

John Tchicai John Martin Tchicai ( ; 28 April 1936 – 8 October 2012) was a Danish free jazz saxophonist and composer. Biography Tchicai was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to a Danish mother and a Congolese father. The family moved to Aarhus, where he st ...

, Thomas Agergaard, and Peter Ole Jorgensen) * 2008: ''Boiler'' (Ninth World Music) With

* 2004: '' Holy Ghost: Rare & Unissued Recordings (1962–70)'' ( Revenant) With

* 1988: '' Valve No. 10'' (

Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz. History Black S ...

) With Gato Barbieri * 1967: '' In Search of the Mystery'' ( ESP-Disk) With Dane Belany * 1975: ''Motivations'' (Sahara Records) With Marion Brown * 1967: ''

Three for Shepp ''Three for Shepp'' is an album by American saxophonist Marion Brown featuring performances recorded in 1966 for the Impulse! label.

'' ( Impulse!) * 1968: '' Why Not?'' ( ESP-Disk) With

* 1968: '' High Won-High Two'' (

Black Lion Black Lion, Black Lions, or Blacklions may refer to: Businesses and organisations * Black Lion, Hammersmith, a London pub * Black Lion, Kilburn, a London pub * Black Lion Records, a British jazz record company * Black Lions Films, associated w ...

) With Zusaan * 2004: ''Making Waves'' (Flying Note) With Charles Gayle * 1988: ''Always Born'' ( Silkheart) * 1988: ''Homeless'' ( Silkheart) * 1988: ''Spirits Before'' ( Silkheart) * 2003: ''Shout!'' ( Cleanfeed) With The Group (

Ahmed Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah (born Leroy Bland; May 10, 1946) is an American jazz trumpeter who was a prominent member of Sun Ra's band. Biography He began playing the trumpet at age 13 in his native New York City. One of the first groups he performed with wa ...

, Marion Brown,

, Sirone,

Fred Hopkins Fred Hopkins (October 11, 1947 – January 7, 1999) was an American double bassist who played a major role in the development of the avant-garde jazz movement. He was best known for his association with the trio Air with Henry Threadgill and S ...

) * ''

'' (No Business Records, 2012) With

* 1966: ''

At Judson Hall ''At Judson Hall'' is a live album by alto saxophonist Noah Howard. It was recorded at Judson Hall in New York City on October 19, 1966, and was released in 1968 by ESP-Disk. On the album, Howard is joined by trumpeter Ric Colbeck, cellist Cather ...

'' ( ESP-Disk) * 1969: ''

The Black Ark The Black Ark was the recording studio of reggae and dub producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, built in 1973 and located behind his family's home in the Washington Gardens neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica. Despite the rudimentary set-up and dated e ...

'' (

Freedom Freedom is understood as either having the ability to act or change without constraint or to possess the power and resources to fulfill one's purposes unhindered. Freedom is often associated with liberty and autonomy in the sense of "giving one ...

) With The Jazz Composer's Orchestra * 1973: ''

Numatik Swing Band ''Numatik Swing Band'' is a live album by Roswell Rudd and the Jazz Composer's Orchestra released on the JCOA label in 1973. Reception The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars stating "The music on this date is avant-garde, ...

'' (JCOA) * 1975: '' For Players Only'' with Leroy Jenkins (JCOA) with the William Parker Bass Quartet * 2006: ''

Requiem A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead ( la, Missa pro defunctis) or Mass of the dead ( la, Missa defunctorum), is a Mass of the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, ...

'' (Splasc(H)) – with Charles Gayle With

* 1987: ''

Original Phalanx ''Original Phalanx'' is an album by James Blood Ulmer and George Adams' band Phalanx which was recorded in 1987 and released on the Japanese DIW label.

'' ( DIW Records) * 1988: '' In Touch'' ( DIW Records) With

* 1973: ''

The Ear of the Behearer ''The Ear of the Behearer'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Dewey Redman featuring performances recorded in 1973 for the Impulse! Records, Impulse! label.

'' ( Impulse!) * 1974: '' Coincide'' ( Impulse!) With

* 1969: ''

Izipho Zam (My Gifts) ''Izipho Zam (My Gifts)'' is the third album led by saxophonist Pharoah Sanders recorded in 1969 but not released on the Strata-East Records, Strata-East label until 1973. It features Sanders with a large ensemble. Reception In his review for ...

'' ( Strata-East) With

* 1969: '' Black Woman'' (

Vortex In fluid dynamics, a vortex ( : vortices or vortexes) is a region in a fluid in which the flow revolves around an axis line, which may be straight or curved. Vortices form in stirred fluids, and may be observed in smoke rings, whirlpools in ...

) With

* 1974: '' Spring of Two Blue J's'' (Unit Core) * 1978: '' One Too Many Salty Swift and Not Goodbye'' ( hat Hut) * 1978: '' Live in the Black Forest'' ( MPS) * 1978: ''

3 Phasis ''3 Phasis'' is an album by Cecil Taylor recorded in April 1978 and released on the New World label. The album features three performances by Taylor with Raphe Malik, Jimmy Lyons, Ramsey Ameen, Sirone and Ronald Shannon Jackson. The album was re ...

'' (

New World The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. ...

) * 1978: '' Cecil Taylor Unit'' (

) * 1993: '' Always a Pleasure'' ( FMP) * 2022: '' The Complete, Legendary, Live Return Concert'' (Oblivion) With

* 1972: '' Communications Network'' (Third World) With

Guerino Mazzola Guerino Bruno Mazzola (born 1947) is a Swiss mathematician, musicologist, jazz pianist as well as a writer. Education and career Mazzola obtained his PhD in mathematics at University of Zürich in 1971 under the supervision of Herbert Groß and ...

* 2009: ''Liquid Bridges'' (Springer)

Filmography

* 2008: ''Teak Leaves at The Temple'' by

Garin Nugroho Garin Nugroho Riyanto (born 6 June 1961) is an Indonesian film director. Biography Nugroho was born in Yogyakarta, Special Region of Yogyakarta on 6 June 1961. He was the fourth child of postal workers Soetjipto Amin and Mariah, who eventually ...

References

External links

Discography of Sirone recordings
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sirone American jazz double-bassists Male double-bassists American jazz composers American male jazz composers Musicians from Atlanta 1940 births 2009 deaths Free jazz double-bassists Avant-garde jazz double-bassists 20th-century American composers 20th-century double-bassists 20th-century American male musicians Revolutionary Ensemble members Phalanx (band) members 20th-century jazz composers African-American jazz musicians 20th-century African-American musicians 21st-century African-American people NoBusiness Records artists