Book review: Sonny Simmons with Marc Chalon - Better Do It Now Before You Die Later

Sonny Simmons made two, possibly more, appearances in Newcastle usually at the Bridge Hotel circa 2009/10 and they were amazing.

Better Do It Now Before You Die Later is also amazing. Simmons, who died in 2021, talked and talked whilst writer Chalon recorded the saxophone/English horn player's memories from his childhood onwards.

It's a gripping saga of jazz, drugs, racial abuse and sexual relations that make Charles Mingus's autobiography Beneath the Underdog pale by comparision. However, despite his checkered career: homelessness, playing alto on the streets to raise the price of a bag of heroin or cocaine, what shines through is his love of the music. Music inspired by Bird, Dolphy and Trane and his own, musically successful quest to find his own voice inspired by his 'heroes'.

Simmons knew where he was at recognising himself as the creative artist he was even in those homeless days sleeping in shop doorways with only his saxophone case for company.

Many musicians are scattered throughout his narrative - some of them famous, even legends. Apart from B, D & T, most get the shortest of shrifts from Sonny either because of the way they short-changed him in the past or their failure to develop creatively.

He's a complex character and, as such, so are his relationships particularly with Barbara Donald, a white trumpet player of racist parents and mother to his daughter. They recorded and had an on and off relationship before 'The Trumpet Lady' - the title he bestowed upon her - leaves him for the band's drummer.

Although his language is colourful street language, Simmons comes across as a literate, philosophical, deeply religious person who suffers fools, albeit not gladly.

As plans to publish in the UK are yet to be decided upon I've had to work from uncorrected proofs so the end product may be toned down although I hope not. At the end there are notes to each chapter suggesting Simmons may have occasionally indulged in a little poetic licence or, given the nature of his existence, his memory may have played tricks.

Nevertheless, having read it, warts and all, I'm feeling so privileged to have been at those sessions at Newcastle's Bridge Hotel. Lance

Sonny Simmons with Marc Chalon - Better Do It Now Before You Die Later

553 pages
6.10 × 9.25 inches
Edition of 3,000
November 4, 2025
Hardcover
ISBN 978-1-953691-99-6
MSRP $50 USD

Distributed by Les presses du réel in French-speaking Europe, Public

Knowledge Books in the rest of Europe and DAP in the rest of the world.

AMAZON.