• Artist: Sonny Stitt
• Flags: Instrumental
• Rating:
• Style: Bop

Review

Sonny Stitt toured Europe in 1979 with pianist Gerald Price, bassist Don Mosley, and drummer Bobby Durham, though he only made two recordings with this rhythm section, the other of which was a date led by Milt Jackson. The bop giant alternates between alto and tenor sax. On alto, Stitt offers a driving, very bluesy take of "(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over" and a relaxed bossa nova arrangement of Charlie Parker's "Little Suede Shoes." Switching to tenor sax, he delivers a richly textured take of the standard "I Can't Get Started." The leader also composed four of the songs on the date, showcasing Price extensively in the down-and-dirty "Simone's Blues" and delivering an exuberant tenor solo in the uptempo "Streamline Stanley." Perhaps the greatest surprise is Stitt's rare appearance as a vocalist in his upbeat "Back to My Own Home Town." Less then three years before his death, Sonny Stitt was still at the top of his game. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over	...	Herbert Magidson, Allie Wrubel	Sonny Stitt	(6:28)
Duty Free	...	Sonny Stitt	Sonny Stitt	(5:47)
I Can't Get Started	...	Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin	Sonny Stitt	(5:28)
Back to My Home Town	...	Sonny Stitt	Sonny Stitt	(2:35)
My Little Suede Shoes		Charlie Parker	Sonny Stitt	(5:35)
There Will Never Be Another You		Mack Gordon, Harry Warren	Sonny Stitt	(4:23)
Simone's Blues	...	Sonny Stitt	Sonny Stitt	(7:05)
Streamline Stanley	...	Sonny Stitt	Sonny Stitt	(4:19)

Credits

Sonny Stitt (Leader), Sonny Stitt (Sax (Alto)), Sonny Stitt (Sax (Tenor)), Sonny Stitt (Vocals), Sonny Stitt (Main Performer), G. Preneron (Digital Remastering), Jean-Pierre Tahmazian (Photography), Bobby Durham (Drums), Don Mosley (Bass), Gerald H. Price (Piano), Claude Achalée (Engineer), Pierre LaFargue (Liner Notes)