Sonny Stitt Sits In With The Oscar Peterson Trio

Sonny Stitt Sits In With The Oscar Peterson Trio, released on 1 January 1959, is a seminal jazz album that brings together two musical giants of their time. This 39-minute masterpiece, released under the Verve Reissues label, is a testament to the incredible chemistry between Sonny Stitt and the Oscar Peterson Trio. The trio, comprising Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums, provides the perfect accompaniment to Stitt's saxophone playing, resulting in a truly unforgettable listening experience.

The album features a range of genres, from bebop and hard bop to cool jazz and acid jazz, showcasing the versatility and skill of the musicians involved. With tracks such as 'I Can't Give You Anything But Love', 'Au Privave', and 'Scrapple From The Apple', this album is a must-listen for fans of jazz music. The inclusion of bonus tracks from a 1957 recording session, featuring Herb Ellis on guitar and Stan Levy on drums, adds an extra layer of depth and complexity to the album.

Sonny Stitt's playing style, which effortlessly switches between fast-paced and slow, introspective tunes, is perfectly complemented by the Oscar Peterson Trio's sensitive and nuanced accompaniment. While some listeners may find Stitt's faster tunes more to their liking, others will appreciate the emotional depth and complexity of his slower pieces. Regardless, this album is a landmark recording that showcases the very best of Sonny Stitt and the Oscar Peterson Trio, and is an essential addition to any jazz collection.

Sonny Stitt, born Edward Stitt in Boston and raised in Michigan, was a pioneering American jazz saxophonist renowned for his warm, distinctive tone and his mastery of the bebop and hard bop idioms. Nicknamed the "Lone Wolf" by jazz critic Dan Morgenstern, Stitt was known for his relentless touring and his preference for working with different musicians, rather than forming a permanent band. Initially, Stitt's style was compared to that of Charlie Parker, but he soon developed his own unique sound, particularly on the tenor saxophone. His extensive discography, featuring over 100 albums, showcases his versatility and innovation. Stitt's career spanned several decades, from establishing himself on the American jazz scene in the 1960s to making a significant impact on the UK jazz funk scene in the mid-1970s. He was also known for his sax duels with contemporaries like Dexter Gordon and Gene Ammons, further cementing his status as one of the finest bebop saxophonists of his era.