THE SONNY STITT QUARTET - New York Jazz (1956)


New York Jazz
Catalog #3145170502
compact disc
reissue release date 6/10/2003
original releasing label Verve Records




Review

Equally at home on tenor and alto, Sonny Stitt was a high-energy saxophonist who was at his best when he had a first-class rhythm section to inspire him. He had just that in Jimmy Jones, Ray Brown, and Jo Jones on this 1956 session, and the results were, as Down Beat put it, "breath-catching."

Sonny Stitt was so closely identified with Charlie Parker on the alto that even when he played tenor, his style was of the quicker-than-lightning variety with all the notes he could pack in a phrase in his soloing. Which makes listening to him, for all but the most ardent bebop fans, an endurance contest no matter how agile he was. Here, in a 1956 session with Ray Brown and Jo and Jimmy Jones backing him, there is some tempering of the maelstrom that Stitt conjured up on every bandstand. Half the program is ballads, including "The Stars Fell on Alabama," a gorgeous "Body & Soul," and "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea." While these cuts show an uncharacteristic restraint from Stitt, the midtempo tunes, such as "Down Home Blues," "Alone Together," and "If I Had You," still reveal his insistence on streaking everything into the blue despite a rhythm section that wishes to hold the tunes within recognizable tempos. It's no problem for Stitt; he just plays twice or three times as fast. This is a good session, but like all of Stitt's records, wears thin after about six cuts.

Tracks

1. Norman's Blues
2. I Know That You Know
3. If I Had You
4. Alone Together
5. Twelfth Street Rag
6. Down Home Blues
7. Sonny's Tune
8. Stars Fell on Alabama
9. Body and Soul
10. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Personnel

Sonny Stitt Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
Jimmy Jones Piano
Ray Brown Bass
Jo Jones Drums

Session

Recorded September 14, 1956 at Fine Sound, New York City

Original recordings produced by Norman Granz

EAC, Wav -> Ape+Cue, Front & Back Covers, 194 mb


The.Sonny.Stitt.Quartet.-New.York.Jazz.-(1956).(Ape+Covers).-By.Travis.rar 13 clicks


Hope Charlie Parker's fans will like...

See you !