This 1966 ESP-Disk release features Simmons in a fiery quartet setting, playing with a conviction that belies his early career stage. The album showcases his distinctive alto and tenor saxophone work in a raw, live-sounding environment.
- The album was recorded live at the Jazz Workshop in San Francisco on May 29, 1966. It features Barbara Donald on trumpet, Reggie Johnson on bass, and Stan Boyer on drums. The recording was produced by ESP-Disk founder Bernard Stollman.
- The original pressing featured a distinctive cover art by C. Robert Brodnax. AllMusic notes the album's "intense, sometimes blistering" performances.
- This album was one of several releases on ESP-Disk in 1966 that helped define the label's experimental jazz sound. It remains a significant document of Simmons' early contributions to the avant-garde jazz movement.
Sonny Simmons is a jazz saxophonist from San Francisco known for his work in the free jazz and avant-garde scenes. "Staying on the Watch" was released early in his career, following his debut album "The Way Ahead."
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