Biography

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Sonny Stitt – It’s Magic
Delmark DD 563 (2005)
Compact Disc

Well known for his ability to play saxophone fast, with authority over the most difficult of chord progressions, Sonny Stitt recorded his first session as leader in 1946 on Savoy, with Kenny Dorham, Bud Powell & Kenny Clarke. In 1950 he made the first of many recordings with Gene Ammons, an association that would last through three decades and produce what is probably his best known records, including Boss Tenors from 1961. It’s Magic, from 1969, is a wonderful reminder that Sonny Stitt could burn bebop (check out the marvelous rendition of “Four”) and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up when he played a moving ballad (as on “Body And Soul”). With Don Patterson, organ and Billy James, drums. Enjoy!

Sonny Stitt, Alto and Tenor Saxophone
Don Patterson, Hammond B3 Organ
Billy Pierce, Drums

Recorded by Paul Serrano at P.S. Studio, Chicago, 1969

1 Four 3:47 (Miles Davis)
2 On Green Dolphin Street 3:40
(Bronislaw Kaper / Ned Washington)
3 Parker's Mood 3:48 (Charlie Parker)
4 How High The Moon 3:47 (Nancy Hamilton / Morgan Lewis)
5 Shake Your Head 3:37 (Sammy Cahn)
6 It's Magic 3:44 (Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne)
7 Getting Sentimental Over You 4:09
(George Bassman / Ned Washington)
8 Just Friends 4:51 (John Klenner / Sam M. Lewis)
9 Body And Soul 4:01 (Johnny Green / Edward Heyman)
10 They Can't Take That Away From Me 3:52
(George Gershwin)


Edward “Sonny” Stitt was born on February 2, 1924 in Boston, Massachusetts. Sonny is best known as an alto saxophonist though he did add tenor and baritone to his arsenal. In his earliest days as a professional musician Sonny’s style was very close to that of Charlie Parker and so Sonny was lopped in with many other Bird imitators. As time went on he developed his own style and sound.

Stitt played with many jazz greats; in the ’40s he played with Tiny Bradshaw’s group, Billy Eckstine’s Big Band with Gene Ammons and Dexter Gordon, and Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band and Sextet. In August/September, 1946 Sonny recorded his first session as leader for Savoy with Kenny Dorham, Bud Powell and Kenny Clarke. One 78 was issued from a 1947 session recorded under the name Lord Nelson & His Boppers on the Sensation label, later re-released by King. And in 1949 he recorded for the Birdland label with Bud Powell, Curley Russell and Max Roach.

In the ’50s Stitt recorded for Prestige, Roost, Sonet, Verve, Argo/Chess. In 1950 Stitt made his first recording with Gene Ammons, an association that would last through three decades and produce what is probably his best known records, including Boss Tenors from 1961. Ammons and Stitt made many recordings together and were especially productive in August of ’61 when in three days they cut three albums! On August 26 they recorded Argo LP 697, the following day Boss Tenors and the day after Argo LP 698. Stitt finally put the Bird-imitator argument to rest when in the ’60s he recorded Stitt Plays Bird. Though the album was made up of songs associated with Charlie Parker, Stitt undoubtedly showed that he had his own voice.

Though Sonny never lived in Chicago he had a brother and sister who lived here. Gene Ammons was a Chicagoan and so Sonny spent quite a bit of time in Chicago and cut at least three sessions at Paul Serrano’s P.S. Studios including this album in 1969. Another album with same group was issued earlier on Delmark, Made For Each Other (Delmark 426). During these sessions Sonny played with an electrical device called a Varitone hooked up to his saxophone. The Varitone seemed to add the same notes to what was played an octave lower. The engineer would have control as to how much of the Varitone would be added to the live acoustic sound of the instrument. Fortunately on these recordings it was used lightly and does not detract from the enjoyment of the music.

In the ’70s Stitt recorded an album that went under the name “The Giants Of Jazz” that also featured Diz, Art Blakey, Kai Winding, Thelonious Monk and Al McKibbon. He also recorded for Muse, Cobblestone and others. In the early ’80s he recorded for Muse, Sonet, and did a wonderful album with Art Pepper called Atlas Blues “Blow & Ballade” for the Japanese Atlas label. Sonny Stitt passed away on July 22, 1982 in Washington D.C.

It’s Magic is a wonderful reminder that Sonny Stitt could burn bebop (check out the marvelous rendition of “Four”) and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up when he played a moving ballad (as on “Body And Soul”). Enjoy!