Sonny Stitt: New York Jazz

One of the big myths among even those players who respect Stitt's playing is that his so-called "commercial" recordings—the early Roosts and Verves on which he turns in five or six flawless gems on each side of the record—can be overlooked in favor of his earlier pairings with Gillespie and Rollins, or his later virtuosic work on Muse and Cobblestone. On the contrary, it's on these miniature performances where Sonny's brilliance is especially apparent. Allowing himself no more than a couple of choruses, he still manages to construct logically complete, emotionally satisfying solos with a beginning, middle and end, time and time again. Just listen to what he does with "Alone Together"—first on tenor, then switching horns and taking the tune out with another textbook solo on alto.

This studio reissue is also especially welcome because it finds Stitt in the company of an ideal rhythm section. Jo Jones was the prototypical straight-ahead swinging drummer during his Basie tenure; Jimmy Jones was always the self-effacing accompanist for Sarah Vaughan; and Ray Brown could be whatever the occasion demanded. All three merely lay down a harmonic/rhythmic track and stay out of Sonny's way—as it should be.

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