Sonny Sharrock

• Guitar [Enemy, 1986] A
• Ask the Ages [Axiom, 1991] ***
• Space Ghost: Coast to Coast [Cartoon Network, 1994] *

See Also:

• The Sonny Sharrock Band
• Sonny Sharrock/Ricky Skopelitis
• merge all

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Guitar [Enemy, 1986]
New thing's answer to Hendrix and McLaughlin circa 1970 and Material's embodiment of creative chaos circa 1980 sits in a studio and plays some tunes--sometimes more than one at a time, either counterpointed or strung together in a suite. Like so many jazz avant-gardists, Sharrock got his start in r&b, and you can tell--with the bullshit cut away he's both funky and beautiful. Tempos are slow to moderate, melodies simple and even lyrical, structures clear, and still he generates enough sonic danger to drive that roommate you can't stand right up the wall. A

Ask the Ages [Axiom, 1991]
Bill and Elvin's excellent jazz record ("Little Rock") ***

Space Ghost: Coast to Coast [Cartoon Network, 1994]
a little skronk, a little tune, some weird vocal overlay, and voila--cable soundtrack fusion ("Hit Single," "Ghost Planet National Anthem") *