Sonny Stitt in The Jazz Club Forum

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Sonny Stitt

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nighthawk

Sonny Stitt

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9273

Sep 16 04 10:37 PM

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Sonny Stitt was someone who I knew very little about until last summer. Before that, I had not heard much from him, but enjoyed it. I was visiting my son at his college in Hoboken NJ and stumbled upon a record shop called All That Jazz. Right in the middle of the whole Blue Note/ New Jersey/ NYC triangle I found a place that had lots of Jazz from that area that covered all eras. Ironically, the first thing I bought was the last Sessions and of course, fell head over heels for the guy. I guess, like many folks I considered Sonny to be a Bird knock off. What I found was a much more original sound and tone that was blues drenched and beautiful. Since that time I've grabbed up everything I possibly can by Sonny.
"Stitt Plays bird" featuring personal favorite Jim Hall on guitar knocked me out.
A later live release"Just In Case You Forgot Just How Bad He Really Was" contains some nice interplay between Sonny, Richie Cole, Cedar Walton and Bobby Hutcherson. Since then I've picked up a bunch of his stuff and have yet to come across a dud, even from among the less reputable looking stuff. I'd appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions as to what I should be trying to get my hands on by Sonny.
Bill H

"A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having."

Location: just outside of Pittsburgh, PA

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Tom 1960

#1

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6152

Sep 16 04 11:25 PM

Hey Bill. I was just listening the other day to " Sonny Stitt Sits In With The Oscar Peterson Trio" on the Verve label. Fine album, great sound. Tracks recorded in 1957 and '59. Can't go wrong with this one.

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nighthawk

#2

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9273

Sep 16 04 11:31 PM

QUOTE

Hey Bill. I was just listening the other day to " Sonny Stitt Sits In With The Oscar Peterson Trio" on the Verve label. Fine album, great sound. Tracks recorded in 1957 and '59. Can't go wrong with this one.

Sounds great. Thanks Tom.

"A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having."

Location: just outside of Pittsburgh, PA

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john4y

#3

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 11465

Sep 16 04 11:57 PM

nighthawk.

I was first turned on to Sonny Stitt by a good friend up in Harlem who was a huge jazz enthusiast. Of course, the first thing I noticed was that Stitt's style closely paralleled that of Charlie Parker's in harmonic and rhythmic aspects, though I later learned that Stitt supposedly had no ties or knowlege of Parker.

Sonny sure could blow a ferocious sax, especially if when he was with a top notch band.

The recordings that he made with Billy Eckstine that I grew up listening to have some tremendous moments. I say the same as well for the Newport sessions that were made in 1958.

Mississippi John Hurt News

Forum Moderator: Frank Delaney

Where We Discuss All Things Mississippi John Hurt.My Webpage

Near Boston, Massachusetts

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nighthawk

#4

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9273

Nov 30 04 6:44 PM

QUOTE

Bio: Sonny Stitt

Throughout his career, saxophonist Sonny Edward Stitt played with a style heavily influenced by Charlie Parker, even though for most of his career he played tenor. Born in Boston on Feb. 2, 1924, Stitt had one of his first playing gigs in the early 1940s as an alto saxophonist in Tiny Bradshaw's big band. In 1945, he was a member of the Billy Eckstine big band, playing alongside such rising stars as Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Fats Navarro and Gene Ammons. From Eckstine's band, Stitt went to play with Dizzy Gillespie in 1946, in both his big band and sextet. Playing with Ammons on and off, Stitt spent 1949-'51 experimenting with the tenor and baritone saxophones in addition to the alto.
Stitt would continue to play in a variety of small-group settings, many times thrown together. He played with Gillespie again in the late '50s and worked with Miles Davis (replacing John Coltrane) in 1960. He returned to playing with Ammons during the early 1960s, and worked as an "all star" for much of the rest of his career, principally with the Giants of Jazz aggregate of Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Al McKibbon and Kai Winding in 1971-'72. Stitt died on July 22, 1982. Recordings include: Constellation (Cobblestone, 1972), What's New!!! Sonny Stitt Plays The Varitone (Roulette, 1966), Stitt Plays Bird (Atlantic, 1963), Sonny Stitt Sits In With The Oscar Peterson Trio (Verve, 1959), Imagination (Prestige, 1950). As a sideman: The Giants Of Jazz (with the Giants of Jazz, Atlantic, 1971).

John Ephland

"A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having."

Location: just outside of Pittsburgh, PA

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Blue Trane

#5

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2056

Jan 17 09 12:16 PM

Stitt was an amazing musician.He was so prolific that it's hard to know what to listen to, next. I especially enjoy his tenor tandem with Gene Ammons: Boss Tenors in Orbit. Of course, Stitt Plays Bird is a magnificent album. Sonny Side Up and Tuneup! are also favorites.

Any other suggestions from those who dig the sound of Sonny?

Peace,

Blue Trane

PS Happy Birthday to me. I drop the double nickel-55-today but I still feel half that age or less. Maybe 11 5 year olds or 5 11 year olds-. Anyway I once read that the first day Adolph Sax 's invention was played in the US was January 17th so it'll be my favorite saxophonists today.

St Louis, MO
" Jazz is the music of the freedom of collective improvisation."- Duke Ellington in Music Is My Mistress.

“I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.”
Duke Ellington quote

It is from the blues that all that may be called American music derives its most distinctive character.-James Weldon Johnson

"And what gift of America to the rest of the world is actually most appreciated by the rest of the world? It is African-American jazz and its offshoots. What is my definition of jazz? 'Safe sex of the highest order.'"-Kurt Vonnegut

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kh1958

#6

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 522

Jan 17 09 5:25 PM

Sure, here are a few suggestions from Sonny Stitt's voluminous discography:

Stitt's Bitts (Prestige--small box set of early sessions including some great Bud Powell)

At the DJ Lounge (Argo) (live session in Chicago club)

How High the Moon (more Argo material)

Salt and Pepper (on Impulse, with Paul Gonsalves)

Legends of Acid Jazz and Low Flame (later Prestige material)

New York Jazz (Verve)

Tune Up/Constellation (fine late Stitt on the Muse label)

Soul People (Prestige, with Booker Ervin)

Live at the Left Bank (incredible live session on electric sax with Don Patterson and Billy James)

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chris olivarez

#7

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 10192

Jan 18 09 5:50 AM

QUOTE (kh1958 @ January 17, 2009 05:25 pm)

Sure, here are a few suggestions from Sonny Stitt's voluminous discography:

Stitt's Bitts (Prestige--small box set of early sessions including some great Bud Powell)

At the DJ Lounge (Argo) (live session in Chicago club)

How High the Moon (more Argo material)

Salt and Pepper (on Impulse, with Paul Gonsalves)

Legends of Acid Jazz and Low Flame (later Prestige material)

New York Jazz (Verve)

Tune Up/Constellation (fine late Stitt on the Muse label)

Soul People (Prestige, with Booker Ervin)

Live at the Left Bank (incredible live session on electric sax with Don Patterson and Billy James)

I know a lot of people don't like the Left Bank one w/Patterson and Billy James because of the Varitone but personally I find the trios fire and energy appealing.

Everybody looks good at the starting line. Get on your mark,get ready but you better keep this in mind. You can hit the ground running like you're shot from a gun but going the distance is the hard part son. Everybody looks good at the starting line.

Paul Thorn

Chris Olivarez, Pagosa Springs,in most beautiful Colorado.

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kh1958

#8

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 522

Jan 19 09 3:34 PM

QUOTE (chris olivarez @ January 18, 2009 05:50 am)

QUOTE (kh1958 @ January 17, 2009 05:25 pm)

Sure, here are a few suggestions from Sonny Stitt's voluminous discography:

Stitt's Bitts (Prestige--small box set of early sessions including some great Bud Powell)

At the DJ Lounge (Argo) (live session in Chicago club)

How High the Moon (more Argo material)

Salt and Pepper (on Impulse, with Paul Gonsalves)

Legends of Acid Jazz and Low Flame (later Prestige material)

New York Jazz (Verve)

Tune Up/Constellation (fine late Stitt on the Muse label)

Soul People (Prestige, with Booker Ervin)

Live at the Left Bank (incredible live session on electric sax with Don Patterson and Billy James)

I know a lot of people don't like the Left Bank one w/Patterson and Billy James because of the Varitone but personally I find the trios fire and energy appealing.

I always ignore such silly prejudices.

A couple of other good ones are:

Don Patterson and Sonny Stitt--Four Brothers (Prestige)

Don Patterson and Sony Stitt--Legends of Acid Jazz volume 2 (Prestige)

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chris olivarez

#9

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 10192

Jan 19 09 7:42 PM

QUOTE (kh1958 @ January 19, 2009 03:34 pm)

QUOTE (chris olivarez @ January 18, 2009 05:50 am)

QUOTE (kh1958 @ January 17, 2009 05:25 pm)

Sure, here are a few suggestions from Sonny Stitt's voluminous discography:

Stitt's Bitts (Prestige--small box set of early sessions including some great Bud Powell)�

At the DJ Lounge (Argo) (live session in Chicago club)

How High the Moon (more Argo material)

Salt and Pepper (on Impulse, with Paul Gonsalves)

Legends of Acid Jazz and Low Flame (later Prestige material)

New York Jazz (Verve)

Tune Up/Constellation (fine late Stitt on the Muse label)

Soul People (Prestige, with Booker Ervin)

Live at the Left Bank (incredible live session on electric sax with Don Patterson and Billy James)

I know a lot of people don't like the Left Bank one w/Patterson and Billy James because of the Varitone but personally I find the trios fire and energy appealing.

I always ignore such silly prejudices.

A couple of other good ones are:

Don Patterson and Sonny Stitt--Four Brothers (Prestige)

Don Patterson and Sony Stitt--Legends of Acid Jazz volume 2 (Prestige)

Good for you!!!!

Everybody looks good at the starting line. Get on your mark,get ready but you better keep this in mind. You can hit the ground running like you're shot from a gun but going the distance is the hard part son. Everybody looks good at the starting line.

Paul Thorn

Chris Olivarez, Pagosa Springs,in most beautiful Colorado.

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Jimmer

#10

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 567

Apr 18 09 12:20 AM

I've been adding to my Stitt collection lately and recommend any and all of the following recordings under his name: New York Jazz, Personal Appearance, Sonny Stitt Sits In With The Oscar Peterson Trio, Givin' Away The Store and Stitt Meets Brother Jack.

user posted image

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7844473

#11

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 30580

Oct 27 11 11:11 PM

Sorry for reviving a 2 and 1/2 old thread, but I think I have finally found another grail quest I've been on and off for about 3 and 1/2 decades.

While searching some online vendor's catalog, I saw this Sonny Stitt album cover :

user posted image

Back when I was 20 or 21, my jazz guitar playing buddy Robert Lucciardi payed me a visit with a bunch of jazz LPs under his arm. We played a few of them, and I remember being very impressed by a Sonny Stitt album which the cover of looked a lot like this one. I didn't buy myself a copy right away because I was broke. Then I move into an ashram and didn't buy any music as long as I lived the ashram life (7 years). When I got back to a "normal" life, I started getting into blues music and seldom bought any jazz album except for a very few that I thought I had to have, my own jazz "desert island" list. I would have added said Sonny Stitt album, but I couldn't remember the title of this LP, nor the label it had been issued on, nothing. All I could remember was that cover I kept looking at while listening to the record when Robert payed me that visit some 35 years ago.
Until today, when I saw it.
I'm not 100% convinced this is the same album that grabbed me back then, but I ordered it anyway, thinking how can I go wrong with Stitt anyway ?

Anyway, I'll let you know if this is the one, as I'm convinced I will remember the music when I hear it.

Rene
Paris, France.

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chris olivarez

#12

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 10192

Oct 28 11 1:26 AM

Oh thanks for reviving this thread Rene.

Now I'm gonna go broke buying me some more Stitt.

I dont have nearly as many of his titles as I should but on every one he is a total bad ass!!!!!

Everybody looks good at the starting line. Get on your mark,get ready but you better keep this in mind. You can hit the ground running like you're shot from a gun but going the distance is the hard part son. Everybody looks good at the starting line.

Paul Thorn

Chris Olivarez, Pagosa Springs,in most beautiful Colorado.

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oddenda

#13

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1033

Oct 29 11 3:14 AM

QUERY: I have purchased two box sets - The Savoy Jazz Collection,1 & 2. in the second one there is a single CD, "Sonny Stitt; the Savoy Recordings" that is different from all the other obviously Savoy material from the forties and fifties. This is a "live" session from Sep 1981. Personel include: Richie Cole (as), John Handy (ts/as), Cedar Walton (pno), Herbie Lewis (bs vlv), Billy Higgins (dms).

The tunes as sequenced on the CD are: Big Dr. Woody, The Night Has a Thousand Eyes, ballad medley (different tune by each member),Star Eyes, Lover man, Laura, Everything Happens to Me, solo excerpt, Wee, "Outro".

My guess is that this is a former Muse session or some sort of latter-day Savoy set, but can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.

pbl

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Muddylives

#14

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 5140

Oct 29 11 9:09 AM

Peter - I believe that session was first released by Joel Dorn on his "32 Jazz" label under the title "Just in Case You Forgot How Bad He Really Was." He also released a number of Muse sessions on that label, and this session could have been recorded by Muse. I don't recall any released Muse record containing this music, however.

The same company that owned Savoy apparently obtained the rights to the 32 Jazz label after Joel Dorn folded it. They then released most of the 32 Jazz CDs under the Savoy label. Most of them were indeed reissues of Muse albums already reissued on 33 Jazz.

Now there is most likely nobody left in the company who can distinguish between the real vintage Savoy jazz and this other stuff.

In fact, Sonny Stitt DID record some absolutely classic sides for Savoy as a leader in 1946 with Bud Powell on piano. An LP was later released in the 50s on Savoy with this music: "Sonny Stitt: New Sounds in Modern Music." Don't tell me they left this music off of your set?

Muddy

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oddenda

#15

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1033

Nov 6 11 3:27 AM

MUD -

Yup. Reviewed the two boxes for the IAJRC JOURNAL - not yet published, but soon. If you're curious, I could e-mail you a copy of the review... if you let me have an e-mail address.

pbl

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