Ira Sullivan 

The JMood Records Family is saddened by the loss of Ira Sullivan.  

Not only was Ira a jazz icon, he was a musical elder statesman for the JMood Family. We were introduced to Ira Sullivan by our co-producer Edward Blanco in Miami, Florida. We were on the heels of a successful “live” recording with Roberto Magris at the iconic WDNA Jazz Gallery in Miami, when we began discussing and coordinating a fresh “new” studio recording at the historic Criteria/Hit Factory in Miami, Florida. 

This session was recorded in studio “A” with Grammy Award Winning recording engineer ,Carlos Alvarez and afforded us an opportunity to bring in some “new” JMood Record Jazz Trekkers and friends from the Miami area namely, Jamie Ousley, Rodolfo Zuniga, Shareef Clayton, Mark Colby and the jazz legend Ira Sullivan. 

The project was entitled “SunStone”. Not only was Ira Sullivan reunited with some of his own band members but was able to record with Miami natives Shareef Clayton (New York), Mark Colby (Chicago) and JMood Records International jazz pianist, Roberto Magris from Trieste, Italy.   

For me, I could not ask for more of a dream come true team, than to work with these fantastic musicians, band leaders and hit makers at the legendary Criteria/Hit Factory studios. 

Which brings me back to Ira Sullivan!   

After he agreed to work with us on the session, before, and, also after the session, we maintained a healthy friendship over the past few years. Either I would call him, or he would grace me by calling me. 

I found many chances to pick his brain or inquire about all the legends he had worked with in the past to seek some caveat about these jazz masters and his experience with them and connect me to this jazz tradition I love so much. 

For example, on the last “live” performance I attended in the Kansas City area before Covid-19 shut everything down, featured the music of Dexter Gordon. This performance was attended by his wife, Maxine Gordon who was also promoting her “new” book about her husband, Dexter Gordon.   

After this experience, I was inspired to do some additional research, only to find out Ira Sullivan had performed and recorded with Dexter Gordon! 

Several days later, I called Ira, and inquired about this experience with Dexter. He confirmed the fact, then, added the last performance and conversation they had together in Chicago, when Dexter Gordon informed him of his plans to move to Europe.   

His memory was so vivid, experience so vast and his musical abilities as a multi-instrumentalist is well documented. 

Over the past few years, my wife and I would time our travels to Chicago so we were there at the same time Ira would make his pilgrimage to Chicago to perform at the Jazz Showcase. On these occasions, would meet and have met other amazing musicians and jazz upstarts that Ira would use on his performances or would sit in on these occasions after the Chicago Jazz Festival. These visits would also reunite me with another JMood Records Jazz Trekker in Chicago, Mark Colby, who also greatly admired Ira Sullivan. 

Working with Ira Sullivan was a pleasure and a privilege for me. 

He would end all his conversations with me on the phone or in person with “God Bless”! 

God bless you and your family Ira Sullivan! Thanks for everything.  Rest in peace!