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The rap on Sonny Stitt is that he was little more than an imitator of Charlie Parker, without a firm identity of his own. However, from the evidence of these early Stitt recordings -- gathered together into a three-CD box -- the first part of the rap doesn't quite ring true, though the second remains an open question. Stitt may have shared an occasional rhetorical turn or blindingly fast run with Bird -- most tellingly on "S`Wonderful" -- but definitely not his entire style. You can hear plenty of Lester Young influences on the tracks where he plays tenor sax, and many of the ballads preview the soulful inflections that would flourish when he joined the soul-jazz movement in the '60s. Moreover, aware of the Bird backlash, Stitt recorded the majority of these tracks on the tenor, with occasional sessions on the baritone and finally, about two-thirds of the way through the set, on alto. What we don't hear at this point in his career is a truly individual voice; at times, when he and Gene Ammons are dueling on tenors, it's difficult to tell the difference between them upon casual listening.
Not only are Stitt's own sessions included in this thorough survey, but also those where he was a co-leader with Ammons and Bud Powell, and a sometimes-non-soloing sideman for Ammons, J.J. Johnson, and the obscure Billy Eckstine-wannabe vocalist Teddy Williams. Above all, this box is a revealing look at the beginnings of the Prestige label just before Bob Weinstock learned how to exploit the potential of LP with open-ended blowing sessions. All of these tracks -- including those designated as Parts 1 and 2 -- were recorded to fit on a single side of a 10" 78 rpm record, as was still the custom of the time, and the neighborhood jukeboxes were definitely a target. Hence we hear Stitt not just as a high-minded -- if by necessity, heavily self-edited -- bebopper, but also as a participant in de facto period pop and R&B sessions. There are even some novelty numbers that tend to be ignored by history (how about a title like "Who Threw the Sleeping Pills in Rip Van Winkle's Coffee?" -- with group vocals!). Even deep in the bop era, jazz musicians still made gestures toward whatever happened to be selling to the masses, voluntarily or not. Although there are no unreleased tunes or outtakes, several tracks make their first CD appearances here, and three (including the notorious "Van Winkle") are being heard for the first time since the 78 era.
© Richard S. Ginell /TiVo
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Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Nelson Boyd, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Jay Johnson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Johnson's Boppers, MainArtist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Nelson Boyd, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Jay Johnson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Johnson's Boppers, MainArtist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Nelson Boyd, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - J.J. Johnson, Composer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Jay Johnson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Johnson's Boppers, MainArtist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Nelson Boyd, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - J.J. Johnson, Composer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Jay Johnson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Johnson's Boppers, MainArtist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Nelson Boyd, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - J.J. Johnson, Composer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Jay Johnson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Johnson's Boppers, MainArtist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Nelson Boyd, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - J.J. Johnson, Composer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Jay Johnson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Johnson's Boppers, MainArtist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Nelson Boyd, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - J.J. Johnson, Composer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Jay Johnson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Johnson's Boppers, MainArtist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Nelson Boyd, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - J.J. Johnson, Composer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Jay Johnson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jay Johnson's Boppers, MainArtist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Kahn, Author - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Jurmann, ComposerLyricist - Bronislaw Kaper, ComposerLyricist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Bud Powell Quartet, MainArtist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Composer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Bud Powell Quartet, MainArtist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Composer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Bud Powell Quartet, MainArtist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
George Gershwin, ComposerLyricist - Ira Gershwin, ComposerLyricist - Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
George Gershwin, ComposerLyricist - Ira Gershwin, ComposerLyricist - Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Concord Music Group, Inc.
Vincent Youmans, ComposerLyricist - Irving Caesar, ComposerLyricist - Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Vernon Duke, ComposerLyricist - John Latouche, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ted Fetter, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Kay Swift, ComposerLyricist - Paul James, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Kay Swift, ComposerLyricist - Paul James, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1978 Prestige Records, Inc.
Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Al Jolson, Author - Vincent Rose, Composer - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - B.G. DeSylva, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Composer, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Andy Razaf, ComposerLyricist - Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fats Waller, ComposerLyricist - Harry Brooks, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Turk, ComposerLyricist - Fred E. Ahlert, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Mitchell Parish, Author - Bud Powell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Signorelli, Composer - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Max Roach, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Curly Russell, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Matty Malneck, Composer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Bennie Green, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Munday, ComposerLyricist - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Carpenter, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Woode, ComposerLyricist - Bennie Green, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
DISC 2
Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1956 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1956 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1956 Prestige Records, Inc.
Louis Dunlap, ComposerLyricist - Earl Hines, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Carpenter, ComposerLyricist - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Louis Dunlap, ComposerLyricist - Earl Hines, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Carpenter, ComposerLyricist - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1956 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Don George, ComposerLyricist - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Teddy Williams, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Wilcox, ComposerLyricist - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Teddy Williams, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Carpenter, ComposerLyricist - Bennie Green, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Carpenter, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Woode, ComposerLyricist - Dunlap, ComposerLyricist - Bennie Green, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Carpenter, ComposerLyricist - Bennie Green, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Munday, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Bennie Green, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Jo Jones, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Potter, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Bruno Coquatrix, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sammy Gallop, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Author - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Harry Warren, Composer - Mack Gordon, Author - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Composer, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Jordan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Rose, ComposerLyricist - Al Jolson, ComposerLyricist - Matthew Gee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - DAVE DREYER, ComposerLyricist - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons Band, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Bateman, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Munday, ComposerLyricist - Carpenter, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Gee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons Band, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Bateman, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Edith Piaf, ComposerLyricist - Louiguy, ComposerLyricist - Mack David, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Gee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons Band, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Bateman, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
WILLIAMS, ComposerLyricist - Carpenter, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Gee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons Band, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Bateman, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
GEORGE DAVID WEISS, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Gee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - BENNIE BENJAMIN, ComposerLyricist - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Townsend, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Turner Layton, Composer - Matthew Gee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Creamer, Author - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Elliott, ComposerLyricist - Young, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Gee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Author - Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matthew Gee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Massey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Composer, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Junior Mance, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Gene Ammons, Composer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Band, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Landers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1950 Prestige Records, Inc.
Sonny Stitt, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Art Blakey, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Bert Kalmar, ComposerLyricist - Harry Ruby, ComposerLyricist - Junior Mance, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Sonny Stitt Quartet, MainArtist - Gene Wright, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1951 Prestige Records, Inc.
Album review
The rap on Sonny Stitt is that he was little more than an imitator of Charlie Parker, without a firm identity of his own. However, from the evidence of these early Stitt recordings -- gathered together into a three-CD box -- the first part of the rap doesn't quite ring true, though the second remains an open question. Stitt may have shared an occasional rhetorical turn or blindingly fast run with Bird -- most tellingly on "S`Wonderful" -- but definitely not his entire style. You can hear plenty of Lester Young influences on the tracks where he plays tenor sax, and many of the ballads preview the soulful inflections that would flourish when he joined the soul-jazz movement in the '60s. Moreover, aware of the Bird backlash, Stitt recorded the majority of these tracks on the tenor, with occasional sessions on the baritone and finally, about two-thirds of the way through the set, on alto. What we don't hear at this point in his career is a truly individual voice; at times, when he and Gene Ammons are dueling on tenors, it's difficult to tell the difference between them upon casual listening.
Not only are Stitt's own sessions included in this thorough survey, but also those where he was a co-leader with Ammons and Bud Powell, and a sometimes-non-soloing sideman for Ammons, J.J. Johnson, and the obscure Billy Eckstine-wannabe vocalist Teddy Williams. Above all, this box is a revealing look at the beginnings of the Prestige label just before Bob Weinstock learned how to exploit the potential of LP with open-ended blowing sessions. All of these tracks -- including those designated as Parts 1 and 2 -- were recorded to fit on a single side of a 10" 78 rpm record, as was still the custom of the time, and the neighborhood jukeboxes were definitely a target. Hence we hear Stitt not just as a high-minded -- if by necessity, heavily self-edited -- bebopper, but also as a participant in de facto period pop and R&B sessions. There are even some novelty numbers that tend to be ignored by history (how about a title like "Who Threw the Sleeping Pills in Rip Van Winkle's Coffee?" -- with group vocals!). Even deep in the bop era, jazz musicians still made gestures toward whatever happened to be selling to the masses, voluntarily or not. Although there are no unreleased tunes or outtakes, several tracks make their first CD appearances here, and three (including the notorious "Van Winkle") are being heard for the first time since the 78 era.
© Richard S. Ginell /TiVo
About the album
- 3 disc(s) - 76 track(s)
- Total length: 03:40:38
- Main artists: Sonny Stitt
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Prestige
- Genre: Jazz
© 2006 Concord Music Group, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2006 Concord Music Group, Inc.
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