Search - Sonny Stitt :: Kaleidoscope

A triple threat!

jazzfanmn | St Cloud, MN United States | 08/12/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ira Gitler's liner notes accurately describe Stitt as a triple threat for his use of alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone on this collection of sessions from the early fifties. Stitt is found in a variety of settings from three seperate quartets that feature among the personnel, Art Blakey and Kenny Drew, to a latin flavored septet. Stitt and Charlie Parker shared a nimble lyrical command over the alto, which Stitt dispalys beautifully here. He is a daring inventive soloist on uptempo numbers and has a light sensitive ballad tone. Sonny's tenor is on display for the latin flavored "Cool Mambo" and "Blue Mambo", and he displays playful baritone for "P.S. I Love You". The album closes with another septet featuring Gene Ammons on baritone and Larry Townsend's vocals for "To Think You've Chosen Me". This set features one of the cd's highlight when Stitt blows a mournful tenor solo on "Our Very Own". This is a wonderful introduction to the music of the legendary saxman Sonny Stitt and should delight long time fans who have not already discovered this gem."

FLAVOR, LOTS OF FLAVOR: Alto, Tenor, Baritone

J. Marks | Boston, MA | 12/28/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In my opinion, Sonny Stitt deserves more recogntion for his incredible talents on three saxes. Although his baritone work is limited, he is always rhythmically robust and melodically charming on any horn. This CD offers tons of early tracks, several of which include large ensemble. The sound quality is lacking but the strength of the bebop prevails. Some of the tracks overlap with the Prestige First Sessions Vol 2 (highly recommended) but this is a keeper nevertheless."