Sunny Murray

[clifford_thornton]

Apparently he's struggling with both health issues and depression, and could use some support.

If you want to send him letters or give him a phone call in Paris to wish him well, please PM me and I'll pass along the info.

I've been okayed to spread this message around.

[JohnS]

Get well soon Sunny.

[king ubu]

Gee, I wish him all the best!

[paul secor]

Hopes for a full recovery, Mr. Murray.

[Clunky]

get well soon Mr Murray. Your work on "Jump Up" is as fine as it gets, exhilarating........we are not at the opera on its way

[jostber]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to him. A true master and mentor of modern jazz drumming. Keep the spirit high.

[colinmce]

Just dropped a quick note of gratitude in the mail. I hope it finds him well!

[Hardbopjazz]

All the best Sunny. We need you around.

[Joe]

Sunny Murray: a true original; a master. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[johnlitweiler]

This e-mail came today:

Hi the community,

This is Benjamin Sanz, drummer in Paris. I hope that everybody is doing well.

I want to bring your attention on the fact that the great Sunny Murray is not doing well actually. He is actually very depressed and have been put in a psychiatric hospital for one week because his friend for 22 years Isabelle, which is a very nice and a great person, couldn't handle that alone anymore (knowing Sunny and how he is now, it is very understandable). Isabelle told me that this is not a bad, a mean place where they might just "let people die" like we all know that it exists. Sunny really need to rest but we wish him to get out of here te sooner the better. He just need to go out and see people, and hopefully less medication.

I know Sunny, what he really need is recognition from the community so he can feel himself better and so he will continue to show us how great he is.

Then maybe we'll continue to have him with us, which is such a wonderful thing, i can tell.

Let's write him letters and call him just to send him love and help him to get out of here before he will give up and let himself die in this hospital.

Also it is good for them at the hospital to see that he is not alone. Because we can't really know yet what is their way of thinking about keeping him/letting him out and his medication.

The last time i did see him, one month ago, Sunny could still play and make me laugh so hard that i had abdominal aches until two days after.

Please transfer this email to the other people he know, musicians or big fans. Just tell him Benjamin did tell you he was there (He's my friend for 18 years).

For the ones who have the contacts of Bill Cosby, Cecil Taylor ( i heard he always ask about Sunny) , Leena Conquest, Bertrand Denzler, William Parker, Henry Grimes and Margareth, people in NY and Philly...Please forward. I just called Archie Shepp and David Murray, they will call him too. Let's call him and write him to send our love, that's all he really needs now.

- Phone line direct to his space: (0033) 1 69 89 35 24

- Adress :

Sunny Murray, Pavillon 7 Ouvert

Hôpital l'EAU VIVE

6 Avenue du Général de Gaulle

91450 Soisy Sur Seine

You can also call the personnal working at the Hospital : (0033) 1 69 89 87 00 (so they know he's not alone) then ask "le bureau des infirmières", " le 7 Ouvert" (pronounced like "set oovair" in american) or the Dr Noakovitch, who is his Psychiatrist for informations. I'll talk to him today and we go see Sunny with Bobby Few june 6.

We can keep you posted but let's keep him posted!

Let's focus for a moment on giving him the recognition and love he deserves to help let him out quick, i'll set him up a gig as soon as it's done.

Peace and blessings to you all, be well.

Benjamin

[brownie]

Wish I could report that Sonny Murray is doing fine but it does not happen to be the case right now.

I talked to him on the phone.

He is still at the L'Eau Vive place. I have not been able to speak to a doctor yet but was told that he would be leaving it, probably tomorrow.

Sonny sounded very depressed and was very unsure about his current whereabouts. He is pretty paranoid (about the hospital, his situation, his future...).

I told him a lot of people were sending getwell messages. He mentioned that Cecil Taylor had called him a few days ago.

My son who is a pedopsychiatrist (he had good things to say about the l'Eau Vive hospital) will try to talk to one of the doctors trying to take care of Murray to find out what exactly are the problems and what kind of treatment can be expected.

I will be in touch with Sonny very soon (also with CT and other musician friends)...

[paul secor]

Thanks for keeping us up to date, brownie. I hope you'll have better news to report next time.

[jostber]

Thanks for posting updates and your support to Mr.Murray, John and Brownie. Sunny deserves a lot of support from the jazz community now, hope he will get out of this bad state and get in better shape through the summer.

[bertrand]

Brownie,

Thank you so much for looking into this sad situation.

I add my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Bertrand.

[JSngry]

Much love for Sunny Murray in this house. Maximum positive energy being directed to a positive resolution to the current dilemma.

[Clunky]

I sent him a card of one of my photos at the weekend but I guess he might not get it if he moves on tomorrow. Get well soon !!!

[king ubu]

Same here, my card may then not reach - unless they will pass them on, which in my world would be the regular thing to do, but my world isn't hospital world.

[clifford_thornton]

Wish I could report that Sonny Murray is doing fine but it does not happen to be the case right now.

I talked to him on the phone.

He is still at the L'Eau Vive place. I have not been able to speak to a doctor yet but was told that he would be leaving it, probably tomorrow.

Sonny sounded very depressed and was very unsure about his current whereabouts. He is pretty paranoid (about the hospital, his situation, his future...).

I told him a lot of people were sending getwell messages. He mentioned that Cecil Taylor had called him a few days ago.

My son who is a pedopsychiatrist (he had good things to say about the l'Eau Vive hospital) will try to talk to one of the doctors trying to take care of Murray to find out what exactly are the problems and what kind of treatment can be expected.

I will be in touch with Sonny very soon (also with CT and other musician friends)...

Thanks for the update, brownie. Dang.

[farnellnewtontrumpet]

My name is Farnell Newton, Im a trumpet/professor in Portland Oregon and also Sunny's Nephew. He is my grandmothers brother. Thank you for all the good well wishes and I will make sure to talk to the rest of the family to make sure they all know what is happening to him. I am calling him tomorrow and writing and sending photos and some records as well. I miss him and think it is time to visit him in Paris! I have been planning on doing an album with him until I heard his hands have been bothering him. Thank you for all the good wishing once again. Im online on twitter, facebook and all so look me up and lets chat.

farnell newton

farnellnewton.com

www.facebook.com/farnellnewtonmusic

www.twitter.com/farnellnewton

[clifford_thornton]

Welcome to the board Farnell. Thanks for spreading the love Sunny's way. He's a unique voice and a fascinating guy, and was kind enough to give me a few hours of his time when I was starting to interview musicians. I'll never forget it.

[Clunky]

any news regarding Sunny's wellbeing ?

[brownie]

Things have improved...

he is out of the hospital and back at his Paris place. Talked to him this morning, he is in much better spirit!

[paul secor]

Some good news. Let us hope that he has friends and a support system who will help him get to where he needs to be.

Thanks for the update, brownie.

Edited June 16, 2012 by paul secor

[king ubu]

Thank for keeping us posted, brownie, much appreciated!

[clifford_thornton]

Thanks, Brownie!