Sonny Stitt - Sonny Stitt With The New Yorkers '1957 [2002]

Tracks list

SUPERB is right! I have rarely, if ever, heard Sonny Stitt sound like this.
Everybody knows about his instrumental prowess, so lets talk about his sound for
a moment. On this particular album, Stitts sound is so rich, so full, so
visceral, it sounds as if hes gonna pop right out of the speakers and play in
your living room right next to you. I have NEVER heard Sonny play with such a
full, enveloping tone as he does here. At first, I thought he might have quit
smoking or something, but there he is with holding a cigarette on the cover. But
he must have done something to obtain the lavish, sumptuous timbre he plays with
on With the New Yorkers.

And speaking of which, the New Yorkers in question (Hank Jones on piano, Wendell
Marshall on bass, and Shadow Wilson on drums) support Stitt with aplomb here,
never getting in the way, but playing more than we are accustomed to from rhythm
sections on Sonnys Roost albums). Hank Jones plays several fine solos
throughout, and comps well behind Stitts solos. And what solos they are! Sonny,
in addition to sounding better than usual tonally, is very much inspired
throughout this disc. Maybe he ate his Wheaties the morning of this session. I
mean, he usually sounds good, but he has never, to my knowledge, sounded THIS
good. Im talking in terms of tone, power and timbre. What a transparent,
beautiful sound!

When I noticed that there were no reviews for this album, I knew I had to review
it! There are well over one hundred Stitt albums recorded and some of them are
bound to get lost in the shuffle. So I considered it my civic duty to turn
people on to this album, so I could tell the world (assuming that Amazon RR
readers represent the world) the this is an astonishing record that you shouldnt
miss. Please note that I am reviewed the Fresh Sounds vinyl reissue here, and
the pressing is excellent. If you only need one Stitt album in your jazz
collection, you cant possibly do better than choosing Sonny Stitt and the New
Yorkers (uh, doesnt he play with New Yorkers on all his albums?). -review by Dan
Feldman, amazon.com.


Tracks:

01 - The Best Things In Life Are Free
02 - Engos, The Bloos
03 - It Might As Well Be Spring
04 - Cherokee
05 - I Didnt Know What Time It Was
06 - Body & Soul
07 - People Will Say Were In Love
08 - Bloosey
09 - Birds Eye
10 - Engos, The Bloos (alternate take)
11 - It Might As Well Be Spring (alternate take)
12 - People Will Say Were In Love (alternate take)

Personnel:

Sonny Stitt - alto saxophone
Hank Jones - piano
Wendell Marshall - bass
Shadow Wilson - drums

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