Sonny Stitt - Eight Classic Albums, Vol.2 (4CD) (2013) {Compilation}
EAC Rip | FLAC (image+.cue, log) ~ 1,53 Gb | 4:46:21 | Covers
Hard Bop, Soul-Jazz | Label: Real Gone Jazz - RGJCD419
Sometimes being prolific works against a musician. Sonny clearly felt at ease inside a recording studio, so much so that the listening audience may mistake his recordings as being unexceptional. Yet careful listening tells us that he was not merely a slavish imitator of Charlie "yardbird" Parker. Sonny Stitt was consistently excellent on his own terms from date to date during the period 1959-1962. Throughout these eight sessions Sonny's presence is dynamic and original, whether he's playing alto or tenor sax. In this collection, I currently find myself favoring Sonny's collaborations with Gene Ammons ("Boss Tenors" & "Boss Tenors In Orbit"), particularly "Autumn Leaves" and "Blues Up and Down" (Stitt's most famous original). He was especially discerning in his selection of keyboardists such as Jimmy Jones, Jack McDuff and Don Patterson. My only regret with this collection is the lack of "bonus tracks". ~ review by Jeffrey Tedford