Sonny Stitt

• INCLUDES 7 BONUS TRACKS

This release presents Sonny Stitt’s complete original album Only the Blues (Verve MGV8250), featuring the saxophonist and the great Roy Eldridge backed by the Oscar Peterson Trio plus Stan Levey. The set consists primarily of blues performances (“The String” is based on rhythm changes and was also recorded by Stitt under the title “The Eternal Triangle”). As a bonus, an additional blues performance by nearly the same group (Jo Jones replaces Levey on drums) recorded live at the Newport Jazz Festival that same year, as well as all of the complete tunes recorded by Stitt in a quartet format (minus Eldridge) during the Only the Blues session, and two extra blues recorded by Stitt in a quartet format.

PERSONNEL:

• SONNY STITT, alto & tenor sax
• ROY ELDRIDGE. trumpet
• OSCAR PETERSON, piano
• HERB ELLIS, guitar
• RAY BROWN, bass
• STAN LEVEY, drums

Hollywood, California, October 11, 1957

• (*) BONUS TRACKS [5-11]:
• 5) Same personnel as 1-4 except Jo Jones (d) replaces Levey. Stitt plays tenor sax.
• Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, Rhode Island, July 7, 1957.
• (6-9) Same session & personnel as 1-4 except Roy Eldridge omitted.
• (10-11) Sonny Stitt (as, ts), Jimmy Jones (p), Ray Brown (b), Jo Jones (d).
• New York, September 14, 1956

TRACKS:

• 01) The String [Aka The Eternal Triangle]
• 02) Cleveland Blues
• 03) B.W. Blues
• 04) Blues For Bags
• 05) Monitor Blues (*)
• 06) I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (*)
• 07) I Remember You (*)
• 08) I Know That You Know [Complete Alternate Take] (*)
• 09) I Know That You Know [Master Take] (*)
• 10)Norman’s Blues (Sonny Stitt) (*)
• 11) Down Home Blues (Sonny Stitt) (*)
• TOTAL TIME: 77:25 Min.