Sonny Stitt Blows the Blues explained

Sonny Stitt Blows the Blues is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in late 1959 and released on the Verve label.^[1]

Reception

The Allmusic site awarded the album 4 stars stating "Sonny Stitt led a number of excellent record dates in 1959, especially at the end of the year... Playing alto sax throughout this album, Stitt hardly sounds like a Charlie Parker clone, something that unfortunately was a frequent claim by tin-eared critics throughout a fair portion of his career".^[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Sonny Stitt except as indicated

1. "Blue Devil Blues" - 4:28
2. "Home Free Blues" - 4:23
3. "Blue Prelude" - 3:07
4. "Frankie and Johnny" (Hughie Cannon) - 5:31
5. "The Birth of the Blues" (Ray Henderson, Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brown) - 5:57
6. "A Blues Offering" - 4:06
7. "Hymnal Blues" - 6:10
8. "Morning After Blues" - 2:59

• Recorded in Los Angeles, California on December 21 (tracks 1 & 6) and December 22 (tracks 2-5, 7 & 8), 1959

Personnel

• Sonny Stitt - alto saxophone
• Lou Levy - piano
• Leroy Vinnegar - bass
• Mel Lewis - drums

Technical

• Merle Shore - art direction
• Phil Stern - cover photography

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzdisco.org/verve-records/catalog-8300-series/#mgv-8374 Verve Records Discography
2. Dryden, K. Allmusic Review accessed December 21, 2012