''A Better Understanding'' is an album by saxophonist

Sonny Fortune Cornelius "Sonny" Fortune (May 19, 1939 – October 25, 2018) was an American jazz saxophonist. Fortune played soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, clarinet, and flute. Biography He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United Stat ...

which was recorded in 1995 and released on the

Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical c ...

label.Jazzdisco: Blue Note Records Discography: 1995-1996
accessed February 12, 2019

Reception

The

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

review by Scott Yanow stated "On the fine all-round ''A Better Understanding'' session, Sonny Fortune is mostly in the spotlight. Although generally playing alto, Fortune is also heard on soprano and flute ... While not one of Fortune's most essential releases (one wishes that he had played some tenor too), ''A Better Understanding'' has enough variety and surprises to make it recommended". On

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

, Florence Wetzell noted "''A Better Understanding'', features nine Fortune originals and is an embarrassment of riches, with one excellent song after another and top-notch accompaniment".Wetzel, F
All About Jazz Review
accessed July 20, 2018

Track listing

All compositions by Sonny Fortune # "Mind Games" – 6:38 # "Laying It Down" – 7:48 # "Awakening" – 6:58 # "A Swing Touch" – 7:04 # "Never Again Is Such a Long Time" – 4:07 # "It Ain't What It Was" – 5:30 # "It's a Bird" – 6:16 # "Tribute to a Holiday" – 6:10 # "Long Before Our Mothers Cried" – 6:45

Personnel

– alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto flute, flute *

Jerry González Jerry González (June 5, 1949 – October 1, 2018) was an American bandleader, trumpeter and percussionist of Puerto Rican descent. Geraldo, his father, was a singer in a band and worked for Las Villas, a chain of stores selling Latin Ameri ...

– trumpet, flugelhorn, congas (tracks 3. 7 & 9) * Robin Eubanks – trombone (tracks 3, 7 & 9) *

Kenny Barron Kenny Barron (born June 9, 1943) is an American jazz pianist, who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since the bebop era. Biography Born in Philadel ...

– piano *

Wayne Dockery Wayne Dockery (June 27, 1941 – June 11, 2018) was an American jazz double bassist who worked with George Benson, Sonny Fortune, Eddie Henderson, Hal Galper, Archie Shepp, Michael Brecker, and others. He appears on albums from at least 1971, al ...

– bass *

Ronnie Burrage Ronnie Burrage (born James Ronaldo Burrage October 19, 1959) is an American jazz drummer. His style draws from jazz, funk, and soul. Career He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Burrage sang in the St. Louis Cathedral boys' choir ...

(tracks 1 & 9),

Billy Hart Billy Hart (born November 29, 1940) is an American jazz drummer and educator. He is known internationally for his work with Herbie Hancock's "Mwandishi" band in the early 1970s, as well with Shirley Horn, Stan Getz, and Quest, among others. Bi ...

(tracks 2-4 & 6-8) – drums *

Steve Berrios Steve Berrios (February 24, 1945 – July 25, 2013) was an American jazz drummer and percussionist born in New York City. Biography Starting out on trumpet while in public school, he was influenced by his father, a professional drummer, and his ...

– percussion (tracks 3 & 9)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Better Understanding, A Sonny Fortune albums 1995 albums Blue Note Records albums Albums recorded at Van Gelder Studio