This is Sonny Stitts album, and it shows. He is a master in full flight, communicating directly and deeply. Even when his style was closer to Charlie Parkers, he always had a style of his own, driven by great melodic imagination and a technical flexibility unequaled among his peers.
Roy Eldridge, one of the undeniable greats in the history of jazz trumpet, plays explosively here, delivering well-constructed solos. The rhythm section, with Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis and Stan Levey, is superb. Peterson is at his best: his comping is sensitive, strong and varied, and his solos full of drive. On the original liner notes, Roy Eldridge said: Oscar really knows to feel a guy, and when to really push him.
Stitt, Roy and Oscar got a fantastic scene going that resulted in one of the most exciting jazz sessions ever recorded.
Tracklist
Total time: 61:08 min.
01. The String (Stitt) 10:02
02. Cleveland Blues (Stitt) 12:01
03. B.W. Blues (Stitt) 11:35
04. Blues For Bags (Stitt) 10:39
05. I Didnt Know What Time It Was (Rodgers-Hart) 3:24 *
06. I Remember You (Schertzinger-Herndon-Mercer) 3:43 *
07. I Know That You Know (Youmans-Caldwell) 4:37 *
08. I Know That You Know (Youmans-Caldwell) [Alternate take] 4:38 *
Album details
(*) Bonus Tracks
Sources:
Tracks #1-4 originally issued as Sonny Stitt "Only The Blues" (Verve MGV 8250)
Tracks #5-8 were not part of the original LP.
Personnel:
Sonny Stitt (alto sax), Roy Eldridge (trumpet on #1-4), Oscar Peterson (piano), Herb Ellis (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), Stan Levey (drums).
Recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on October 11, 1957
Liner notes: Nat Hentoff
Album photography: Phil Stern
Original session supervised by Norman Granz
Produced for CD release: Jordi Pujol
Press reviews
"This release contents all of the music recorded by Sonny Stitt (who stuck to alto for the date) on October 11, 1957. The original four songs teamed Stitt with trumpeter Roy Eldridge, pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Herb Ellis, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Stan Levey. Although three of the songs were blues, the most exciting number is ironically the opener, an "I Got Rhythm" run-through on a Stitt original, "The String," that is note for note the same as his "Eternal Triangle." The two horns are quite combative and inspire each other. Not only is Stitt heard on a pair of standards without Eldridge from the same day, but there are 10 minutes of "I Know That You Know" consisting of two full versions."
Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
