Sonny Stitt - Blows The Blues (1960) [2012 SACD]

Sonny Stitt led a number of excellent record dates in 1959, especially at the end of the year when he produced three LPs for Verve over a span of three sessions with pianist Lou Levy, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Mel Lewis. Playing alto sax throughout this album, Stitt hardly sounds like a Charlie Parker clone, something that unfortunately was a frequent claim by tin-eared critics throughout a fair portion of his career. The music includes several potent originals, especially “Hymnal Blues” and the slow, powerful “Morning After Blues.”

Tracks:

1. Blue Devil Blues
2. Home Free Blues
3. Blue Prelude
4. Frankie and Johnny
5. Birth of the Blues
6. A Blues Offering
7. Hymnal Blues
8. Morning After Blues

Personnel:

Sonny Stitt (alto saxophone)
Lou Levy (piano)
Leroy Vinnegar (bass)
Mel Lewis (drums)