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Re: Sonny Simmons (the artist that Alfred Lion tried to sign using heroin)
This was the first I have heard of him because Sonny Rollins liked his playing. Rollins and Simmons would go over to saxophonist Clifford Jordans house for hours long jam sessions and Rollins liked Simmons because of his improvisational talent.
Naturally I checked Spotify and found Simmons' first 3 albums and made a Sonny Simmons Playlist. His debut album as a leader is called Staying on the Watch - Wikipedia