The great Norman Simmons has passed on at 91 years of age. Good obit by Nate Chinen at WBGO.
Simmons was best-known as accompanist of singers; video of “If I Had You” with Joe Williams is typically flawless — and then Simmons even sings.
A 1995 interview with Michael Woods is well worth exploring. Among other things, Simmons talks about learning Avery Parrish’s “After Hours” early on. The more I learn about this music, the more I’m convinced “After Hours” is key repertoire.
I briefly reviewed one excellent Simmons disc, I’m….the Blues, in my haphazard survey, “52 Pieces of the Puzzle.”
DO THE M@TH 