Comments on: Essential Sonny Stitt Albums – The Underrated Lone Wolf of Jazz

By: George Chacko

George Chacko — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 01:41:30 +0000

Thanks very much for this. I’m listening to the Sonny Stitt album (Jazz Masters 50 Verve), which I bought about 20 years ago in St Louis, MO. I clearly have some more shopping to do. Any recommendations for digital downloads?

By: Samuel Chell

Samuel Chell — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 19:09:04 +0000

I first heard Sonny at McKee’s (63rd and Cottage Grove in Chicago), playing for a packed neighborhood crowd on a small stage behind the bar. It barely accommodated Donald Patterson’s B3 and Billy James’ drum kit. After the first set, the door opened, and Jug (newly released from Joliet prison) entered to the room to loud cheering. Sonny called “Cherokee” and played it forwards and backwards, while breaking the speed limit. For every 10 notes played by Sonny, Jug (who had to stand below the stage in the bartender’s lane) played one note and got the loudest response from the audience.

The year was 1961, and the sound of the above album is on “Boss Tenors in Orbit.” Sonny always downplayed the Bird comparison. Frankly, I think his real hero and biggest inspiration was Art Tatum. As for Sonny’s brief tour of Europe with Miles (after the departure of Coltrane), I think Sonny’s departure had less to do with his drinking than his aversion to playing modal jazz (of course, “Kind of Blue” had settled in by then). This is explanation Miles gave to Jimmy Heath.

Re: “Sonny Side Up,” be sure to check out the transcription of all 3 soloists by super-singer Roberta Gambarini.

By: Matt Fripp

Matt Fripp — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:20:38 +0000

In reply to Pieter. Enjoy!

By: Matt Fripp

Matt Fripp — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:20:00 +0000

In reply to Stephen Fairfield. Thanks Stephen!

By: William Stoy

William Stoy — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 18:04:59 +0000

Thank you Mr. Fripp! Sonny Stitt is a monster. I was listening to jazz radio driving the freeways in LA in the 1970s and heard a burning alto solo. I thought “This guy’s got Bird’s chops but it isn’t Charlie”. Chuck Niles, the radio DJ, confirmed my suspicions and said that was Sonny Stitt. I love listening to him still.

By: Stephen Fairfield

Stephen Fairfield — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 16:16:42 +0000

Superb overview for a jazz drummer unfamiliar with Stitt. I particularly appreciate the total musical focus…we all have, and make lifestyle choices…sometimes to our benefit, sometimes (in retrospect) because we could….keep on keepin’ the beat Matt. Appreciate you.

By: Wytze van der Raay

Wytze van der Raay — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 14:01:39 +0000

Thanks for putting Sonny Stitt in the spotlight once more! He is one of the greatest treasures of the bebop era, period.

Your selection of records is not bad, but I’d like to highlight a few more:

* Blues Up & Down, Vol. 1 (Prestige 7823, on the name of Gene Ammons), from 1950,
* the Mosaic 9-CD issues is great as Marc Myers says, but if you’d have to choose just one track, try this one: https://youtu.be/mjXOmiCmBBY
(Bloosey, on alto, with Hank Jones, Wendel Marshall and Shadow Wilson, 1957)
* two Cobblestone LPs from 1972: Tune-Up (CST 9013) and Constellation (CST 9021), with Barry Harrus, Sam Jones and Roy Brooks.

By: Pieter

Pieter — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 09:58:44 +0000

Nice one. I’m going to work my way through these right now. Thanks!