Sonny Stitt's Ballads (1950-'51)

Between 1949 and 1952, Sonny Stitt recorded for Prestige Records. His playing was sensational—on tenor, alto and baritone saxophones. Of particular note during this period were his ballads. Here are nine of them:

Here's Ain't Misbehavin', with Kenny Drew (p), Tommy Potter (b) and Art Blakey (d), in February 1950...



Here's Mean to Me, from the same session...



Here's Stairway to the Stars, from the same session...



Here's Count Every Star, with Duke Jordan (p) Eugene Wright (b) Wesley Landers (d), from June 1950...



Here's There Will Never Be Another You from the same session...



Here's To Think You've Chosen Me, with Bill Massey (tp), Matthew Gee (tb), Sonny Stitt (ts), Gene Ammons (bar), Junior Mance (p), Eugene Wright (b), Wesley Landers (d) and Larry Townsend (vcl), from October 1950...



Here's Our Very Own from the same session...



Here's Stitt on alto saxophone playing Imagination as a mid-tempo ballad, with Junior Mance (p), Eugene Wright (b) and Art Blakey (d), from December 1950...



And here's Stitt on baritone saxophone playing P.S. I Love You as a mid-tempo ballad, with Charles Bateman (p), Eugene Wright (b) and Teddy Stewart (d), from February 1, 1951 (70 years ago today!)...