Sonny Stitt – In A Mellow Tone

•    A collection of tracks from jazz saxophonist great Sonny Stitt

Sonny Stitt was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of his generation, recording more than 100 albums. He was nicknamed the “Lone Wolf” by jazz critic Dan Morgenstern because of his relentless touring and devotion to jazz. Stitt was sometimes viewed as a Charlie Parker mimic, especially earlier in his career, but gradually came to develop his own sound and style, particularly when performing on tenor sax.

During the 1940s, he played alto saxophone as a member of Tiny Bradshaw’s big band, Billy Eckstine’s big band with Gene Ammons and Dexter Gordon and Dizzy Gillespie’s big band. Over the years, he worked alongside Miles Davis, Gene Ammons, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Johnny Griffin, Booker Ervin, Ernest Ranglin and Dick Morrissey. Stitt also appeared regularly at Ronnie Scott’s in London during the 1960s and joined the all-star group Giants of Jazz in the 1970s (which also featured Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Kai Winding and bassist Al McKibbon).

TRACKLISTING
    Jeep’s Blues
    The Way You Look Tonight
    Forecast Sonny And Red
    You Don’t Know What Love Is
    Cotontail
    In A Sentimental Mood (Instrumental Version)
    In A Mellow Tone
    I’m Getting Sentimental Over You