Sonny Red (1932–1981) was an American alto saxophonist who played a vital role in the Detroit jazz scene through the 1950s and 1960s.Sonny Red
Born Sylvester Kyner Jr., Sonny Red first gained recognition playing with Art Blakey. His duet album “Two Altos” with Art Pepper brought him to a wider audience in the late 1950s. Though he is well-known for his excellent appearances in a run of Blue Note albums with Donald Byrd, Sonny Red also recorded several albums as a leader. Most notably, his album “Out Of The Blue,” with a rhythm section of Kelly, Chambers, and Brooks, is considered an overlooked masterpiece and encapsulates his soulful and melodic approach to jazz.
