RIP Ira Sullivan

[Kevin Bresnahan]

RIP to a great musician. I only have a few records of his but I'll have to pick up a copy of "Horizons". That looks like an interesting session.

[Joe]

One of my all-time faves. What a musician; what a life! 

[Gdgray]

I remember walking in small club in Miami in early 90’s and seeing him play for the first time. Totally unaware he was playing and totally blown away. Saw him several times through the years with small group and he still could play. He played Sax , trumpet and flute. Always closed with Amazing Grace on flute. Vaya con dios my friend.

Edited September 23, 2020 by Gdgray
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[Peter Friedman]

R.I.P.

[ejp626]

RIP

I may well have seen him over the years at the Chicago Jazz Festival in an ensemble. 

However, The only time I know for sure that I saw him was at this amazing concert where he was one of several tenor players - March 19, 2005: The Great Chicago Tenor Saxes, featuring Johnny Griffin, Ira Sullivan, Von Freeman, Franz Jackson and Eric Alexander.  The Art Institute of Chicago Rubloff Auditorium

Still can't believe this wasn't recorded (or at least made publicly available)...

[ghost of miles]

A musician whose records I became acquainted with and enjoyed thanks to members of this board.  R.I.P. and condolences to those such as Chuck who knew him personally.

[sidewinder]

Sorry to hear this - an extremely talented artist. I will spin ‘Horizons’ over the next few days. Only sorry I never got to see him play. RIP.

Edited September 23, 2020 by sidewinder

[Larry Kart]

Ira, Johnny Griffin, and bassist Nevin Wilson are on the cover of my book: The uncredited photo was taken from almost exactly where I was sitting that Monday night at the Gate of Horn, though it may have been taken at another club. Couldn't believe my good fortune when I found it in the Chicago Tribune "morgue," from whence I borrowed it.

BTW, when Ira came back to Chicago to play at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase in 1967 IIRC after a long stay in Miami, I did an interview with him for the Tribune. He couldn't have been nicer or more real. 

My favorite Ira tenor solo -- with Red Rodney, Tommy Flanagan, Oscar Pettiford, and Philly Joe Jones in 1957. The transition Ira makes from the Latin-portion into straight time!

 

[JSngry]

Check him oud on Red Garland's Red Alert on Galaxy. Whoa!

[rpklich]

I feel lucky to live in Chicago.  I got to hear him yearly when he hosted the afterfest jam sessions at the Jazz Showcase.  This is the first year in a long time he didn’t host.   RIP

[Quasimado]

Great musician - beautiful trumpet on J.R.'s Blue Note. RIP

[mikeweil]

So sorry to hear this. His rendition of "Send In The Clowns" on the Galaxy LP Peace is one of the most moving pieces of jazz I ever heard. R.I.P(eace).

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

Isn't he the first person, to replace Hank Mobley, in the Jazz Messengers-

[mikeweil]

54 minutes ago, chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez said:

Isn't he the first person, to replace Hank Mobley, in the Jazz Messengers-

Yes - go to https://jazzmf.com/art-blakey-chronology-and-the-jazz-messengers/ and scroll down to June 1956.

[mjzee]

Two tracks Ira did with Blakey were released on this LP:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Originally

[Chuck Nessa]

"Lil' T" and 2 takes of "The New Message" were on the cd of Drum Suite.