Sonny Clark – Dial "S" For Sonny

wing and blues-infused phrasing. Backed by an exceptional lineup—Art Farmer, Curtis Fuller, Hank Mobley, Wilbur Ware, and Louis Hayes—Clark leads the session with assurance and taste. His compositions blend catchy melodies with complex harmonic movement, characteristic of the best late '50s Blue Note output. The interplay between the horns is punchy and tight, while Clark’s piano anchors each piece with clarity and rhythmic drive.

The album stands out for its unpretentious but inventive approach to hard bop. Clark’s solos never stray into excess; instead, they explore ideas with elegance and subtle tension. The title track and “Sonny’s Mood” showcase his compositional strength, while standards like “It Could Happen to You” reveal his ability to personalize familiar material. Though overshadowed by his later work Cool Struttin’, this album is a cornerstone of his discography and essential listening for fans of straight-ahead jazz.

Reviews

"Clark’s playing was assertive and fluid, filled with bebop phrasing, blues inflection, and rhythmic urgency." – JazzTimes

"This is a tremendously rewarding hard bop session, especially for fans of Clark’s crisp, lyrical playing and the ever-reliable Mobley-Fuller frontline." – All About Jazz

"A strong debut... Clark quickly established himself as one of Blue Note's most reliable pianists." – The Penguin Guide to Jazz

"Dial ‘S’ for Sonny is bursting with freshness, the band’s synergy is electric, and Clark’s solos are impeccably shaped." – PopMatters

"Clark was already fully formed as a stylist here—bluesy, swinging, with a crystalline touch and impeccable timing." – AllMusic

Blue Note Classic Vinyl Reissue Series

All-Analog 180g Vinyl LP Mastered by Kevin Gray Directly from the Original Master Tapes and Manufactured at Optimal in Germany

Blue Note Records has announced the continuation of the Classic Vinyl Reissue Series which presents 180g vinyl LP reissues in standard packaging mastered by Kevin Gray and manufactured at Optimal. The pressings are all-analog whenever an analog source is available, with Gray mastering directly from the original master tapes. While the first 16 titles of the series focused on the best-known Blue Note classics from the 1950s and 60s, the new run of titles curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman broadens its scope to span the many eras and styles of the legendary label's eight-decade history presented by themes: Bebop, Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Post-Bop, Avant-Garde, The 70s, The Rebirth, and Hidden Gems.