Details: These are Sonny Stitt's last ever live recordings (from Bubba's Jazz Restaurant, November 11, 1981). Bubba's stage had been the place of so many historical jazz recordings. This concert was first issued in 1983, and now sees it's first official reissue in four decades; a homage to the late Sonny Stitt who passed away in 1982. American saxophonist Sonny Stitt has made more records as a band leader than any other artist in the jazz world. Possessed with the jazz mojo, he was one of the first jazz musicians to experiment with the electric saxophone. Considered a pioneer of jazz funk in the UK, Stitt was one of the hardest working jazz men on the circuit, touring relentlessly for over four decades. Stitt was born Edward Hammond Boatner Jnr on 2 February in Boston, Massachusetts. Music was clearly in his blood; his father was a college music professor, a singer and composer. His mother was a piano teacher. After being adopted by the Stitt family, he grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. Stitt was a member of several college bands and later cut his teeth as a professional saxophonist in big bands led by the likes of Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, and Tiny Bradshaw. By the mid to late 1940s Stitt led his own bands including the Bebop Boys (1946) and Galaxy (1948). Known for his warm tones, in his early career Stitt was often likened to Charlie Parker. In fact, on hearing Stitt play, Parker told him, "Damn, you sound just like me!" Over the years, however, Stitt developed his own distinctive sound and style on tenor saxophone. Jazz legend, John Coltrane was said to be heavily influenced by Stitt's virtuoso musicianship. Stitt worked with a veritable Who's Who of jazz greats, including Jimmy Jones, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, George Freeman, Chick Corea, and Gene Ammons. In most cases, he played with other musicians for shorter periods than most which lead to him being dubbed "the Lone Wolf' by jazz music critics. In the 1970s Stitt joined the supergroup Giants Of Jazz alongside Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Kai Winding, and Al McKibbon. The concert featured here captures Stitt's final live sessions at the famous Bubba's Jazz Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Recorded on 11 November 1981, this special edition 2LP reissue is the first since it's original release in 1983. Sadly, Stitt died of a heart attack eight months later. But the warm, smooth tones of the Lone Wolf live on.
Tracklist:
- Oh Lady Be Good
- What's New
- There Is No Greater Love
- The Chef
- I Can't Get Started with You
- Lester Leaps in
- Sonny's Blues
- Old Folks
- Lax
- Yesterdays
- Four
