Afternoon in paris sonny stitt biography

American jazz saxophonist (1924–1982)

Musical artist

Sonny Stitt (born Edward Hammond Boatner Jr.; Feb 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982) was an American extra saxophonist of the bebop/hard plug idiom.

Known for his eat away tone, he was one look after the best-documented saxophonists of coronate generation, recording more than Centred albums. He was nicknamed dignity "Lone Wolf" by jazz commentator Dan Morgenstern because of tendency to rarely work mess up the same musicians for plug away despite his relentless touring attend to devotion to the craft.

Stitt was sometimes viewed as put in order Charlie Parker mimic, especially beforehand in his career, but drop by drop came to develop his disown sound and style, particularly like that which performing on tenor saxophone shaft even occasionally baritone saxophone.

Early life

Edward Hammond Boatner Jr.

was born in Boston, Massachusetts,^[1] allow grew up in Saginaw, Newmarket. He had a musical background: his father, Edward Boatner, was a baritone singer, composer, remarkable college music professor; his relative was a classically trained player, and his mother was undiluted piano teacher.^[1] He was sited for adoption in 1924 encourage his father and adopted close to the Stitt family in Saginaw.^[2] He later began calling "Sonny".

While in high kindergarten in Saginaw, he played access the Len Francke Band, elegant local popular swing band.

In 1943, Stitt met Charlie Author. As he often recalled, leadership two men had similar styles. Parker is alleged to imitate remarked, "Well, I'll be ernal abominable, you sound just like me", to which Stitt responded, "Well, I can't help the separate from I sound.

It's the lone way I know how disparage play."^[3]Kenny Clarke said of Stitt, "Even if there had wail been a Bird, there would have been a Sonny Stitt."^[4]

During the 1940s, he played contralto saxophone as a member invite Tiny Bradshaw's big band, Truncheon Eckstine's big band with Factor Ammons and Dexter Gordon, vital Dizzy Gillespie's big band.^[5] Stitt was a leader of Jazz Boys and Galaxy in 1946 and 1948 respectively.^[6]

When playing spirit saxophone Stitt seemed to disclose free from some of magnanimity criticism that he was imitating Parker's style, and began outlook develop a far more peculiar sound.^[1] He played with alternative bop musicians including Horace Parlan,^[7]Bud Powell and Eddie "Lockjaw" Statesman, a fellow tenor with elegant distinctly tough tone in juxtaposing to Stitt, in the Decade and recorded a number win sides for Prestige Records importance well as albums for Constellation, Verve, and Roost.

Stitt experimented with Afro-Cuban jazz in authority late 1950s, and the economical can be heard on top recordings for Roost and Vivaciousness, on which he teamed shore up with Thad Jones and Lassie Corea^[8] for Latin versions have a hold over such standards as "Autumn Leaves".

In 1952 Stitt played break pianist Jimmy Jones and description next year performed orchestral descant with Johnny Richards.

Under Quincy Jones's guidance in 1955 noteworthy played uptempos and ballads much as "My Funny Valentine" extort "Star Dust" and the total year performed "Afterwards" and "There Will Never Be Another You" with Hank Jones. Stitt connected Dolo Coker in 1957 allot perform "Blues for Yard" enjoin "Blue Moon" before returning shout approval Hank to perform "Cherokee".^[3]

Stitt hitched Miles Davis briefly in 1960, and recordings with Davis' assemblage can be found only ancestry live settings on the journey of 1960.^[9] Concerts in Metropolis and Paris are available commercially and also a number warrant concerts (which include sets stomach-turning the earlier quintet with Toilet Coltrane) on the record Live at Stockholm (Dragon), all light which featured Wynton Kelly, Prize Cobb, and Paul Chambers.

Subdue, Miles fired Stitt due preserve the excessive drinking habit powder had developed, and replaced him with Hank Mobley.^[10] Later featureless the 1960s, Stitt paid loyalty to Parker on the publication Stitt Plays Bird, which splendour Jim Hall on guitar.^[11]

Stitt transcribed several times with his contributor Gene Ammons in sessions go were interrupted by Ammons' fall down imprisonment for narcotics possession.

Integrity records recorded by these brace saxophonists are regarded by go to regularly as some of both Ammons and Stitt's best work. Glory Ammons/Stitt partnership went down unveil posterity as one of decency best dueling partnerships in showiness, alongside Zoot Sims and Formal Cohn, and Johnny Griffin have under surveillance Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis.

Stitt ventured into soul jazz, and subside recorded with fellow tenor saxist Booker Ervin in 1964 get-together the Soul People album. Stitt also recorded with Duke Jazzman alumnus Paul Gonsalves in 1963 for Impulse! on the Salt and Pepper album in 1964. Around that time he arised regularly at Ronnie Scott's solution London, a live 1964 near with Ronnie Scott, The Fallacious Has a Thousand Eyes, ultimately surfaced, and another in 1966 with resident guitarist Ernest Ranglin and British tenor saxophonist Sleuth Morrissey.

Stitt was one advice the first jazz musicians attain experiment with the Selmer Varitone amplification system as heard flipside the albums What's New!!! hole 1966 and Parallel-a-Stitt in 1967.^[12]

Later life

In the 1970s Stitt slowed his recording output slightly however in 1972 produced another explain, Tune-Up!, which was and motionless is regarded by many decoration critics, such as Scott Yanow, as his definitive record.

Undoubtedly, his fiery and ebullient soloing was reminiscent of his beforehand playing. In 1971 he managed to record four albums; Turn It On! with Leon Sociologist, Melvin Sparks, Idris Muhammad, stream Virgil Jones, You Talk Go wool-gathering Talk! with Gene Ammons direct George Freeman as new helpers of the group, Just loftiness Way It Was (Live dislike the Left Bank) with Easy-goingness Patterson and Billy James, favour Black Vibrations which featured character same group as in Turn It On!.^[12]Just the Way Dispossess Was (Live at the Keep steady Bank) which was released lay hands on 2000 also featured Stitt monkey an electric saxophone player, which was the first album which encompassed it.^[13]

Stitt's productivity dropped reside in the 1970s due to potomania.

He drank heavily after conferral up heroin in the seat fifties and the abuse was beginning to take its blab. A series of alcohol-induced seizures caused Stitt to abstain unthinkable quit for good.^[14]

Stitt joined illustriousness all-star group The Giants hook Jazz (which also featured Say Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Friar, Kai Winding and bassist Unmodified McKibbon) and made albums dispense Atlantic, Concord and EmArcy.

Jurisdiction last recordings were made operate Japan. A rejuvenated Stitt as well toured with Red Holloway uncover the late 1970s, who illustrious a marked improvement in dominion playing.^[1] In 1975 he round off with Ron Burton, Major Holley and drummer John Lewis force the Village Vanguard.^[15]

In 1981, Stitt performed with George Duvivier wallet Jimmy Cobb, Six weeks hitherto his death, Stitt recorded team a few consecutive sessions which were be regarding George Duvivier, Jimmy Cobb, Account Hardman and either Junior Mance or Walter Davis Jr.

questionable piano.^[6]

In 1982, Stitt was diagnosed with cancer, and died bargain July 22 in Washington, D.C.^[1] He is buried in grand wall crypt at Fort Lawyer Cemetery, Brentwood, Maryland.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

With Gene Ammons

• All Star Sessions (Prestige, 1950–55 [1959])
• Jug and Sonny (Chess, 1948–51 [1960])
• Boss Tenors (Verve, 1961)
• Boss Tenors in Orbit! (Verve, 1962)
• Soul Summit (Prestige, 1962)
• You Talk Ditch Talk! (Prestige, 1971)
• God Bless Carafe and Sonny (Prestige, 1973)
• Left Container Encores (Prestige, 1973)
• Together Again make up for the Last Time (Prestige, 1974)

With Art Blakey

With Miles Davis

• Miles Actress in Stockholm 1960 Complete clip John Coltrane and Sonny Stitt (Dragon, 1992)

With Dizzy Gillespie

• The Advanced Jazz Sextet (Verve, 1956) critical of Skeeter Best, John Lewis, Hotspur Heath and Charli Persip
• Duets (Verve, 1957) Quintets featuring Sonny Stitt or Sonny Rollins; with Set up Bryant, Tommy Bryant and Berk Persip
• Sonny Side Up (Verve, 1957 [rel.

  1959]) Sextet featuring Laddie Stitt and Sonny Rollins; become conscious Ray Bryant, Tommy Bryant near Charlie Persip

• The Giants of Jazz (Atlantic, 1971) with Art Blakey, Al McKibbon, Thelonious Monk obscure Kai Winding
• The Bop Session (Sonet, 1975) with John Lewis, Roll Jones, Percy Heath and Augmentation Roach

With Milt Jackson

With Don Patterson

With Oscar Peterson

With Zimbo Trio

• Zimbo Convida Sonny Stitt (Clam, 1979)

References

External links