On Blows the Blues, Sonny reverts to the blues, this time in a simple setti… Read Full Bio ↴On Blows the Blues, Sonny reverts to the blues, this time in a simple setting composed of 3 musicians who, like Sonny, are essentially products of the modern jazz scene.
Professional ratings
Allmusic 4/5 stars
Review by Ken Dryden of allmusic:
Sonny Stitt led a number of excellent record dates in 1959, especially at the end of the year when he produced three LPs for Verve over a span of three sessions with pianist Lou Levy, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Mel Lewis. Playing alto sax throughout this album, Stitt hardly sounds like a Charlie Parker clone, something that unfortunately was a frequent claim by tin-eared critics throughout a fair portion of his career. The music includes several potent originals, especially “Hymnal Blues” and the slow, powerful “Morning After Blues.” Even an old warhorse like “Frankie and Johnnie” (which actually dates back to the early 1800s, according to liner note writer Leonard Feather) sounds fresh in the quartet’s hands, with great solos by Stitt, Levy, and Vinnegar.
Track listing
01. “Blue Devil Blues” (Sonny Stitt) – 4:25
02. “Home Free Blues” (Sonny Stitt) – 4:22
03. “Blue Prelude” (Joe Bishop, Gordon Jenkins) – 3:05
04. “Frankie and Johnny” (Traditional) – 5:27
05. “Birth of the Blues” (Lew Brown, B.G. DeSylva, Ray Henderson) – 5:52
06. “A Blues Offering” (Sonny Stitt) – 4:03
07. “Hymnal Blues” (Sonny Stitt) – 6:05
08. “Morning After Blues” (Sonny Stitt) – 3:01
Released: 1960
Recorded: December 21-22, 1959 in Los Angeles, CA
Genre: jazz
Length: 36:20
Label: Classic Records / Verve
Reissue Producers: Michael Hobson, Ying Tan
Personnel
* Sonny Stitt – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
* Lou Levy – piano
* Leroy Vinnegar – bass
* Mel Lewis – drums
Professional ratings
Allmusic 4/5 stars
Review by Ken Dryden of allmusic:
Sonny Stitt led a number of excellent record dates in 1959, especially at the end of the year when he produced three LPs for Verve over a span of three sessions with pianist Lou Levy, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Mel Lewis. Playing alto sax throughout this album, Stitt hardly sounds like a Charlie Parker clone, something that unfortunately was a frequent claim by tin-eared critics throughout a fair portion of his career. The music includes several potent originals, especially “Hymnal Blues” and the slow, powerful “Morning After Blues.” Even an old warhorse like “Frankie and Johnnie” (which actually dates back to the early 1800s, according to liner note writer Leonard Feather) sounds fresh in the quartet’s hands, with great solos by Stitt, Levy, and Vinnegar.
Track listing
01. “Blue Devil Blues” (Sonny Stitt) – 4:25
02. “Home Free Blues” (Sonny Stitt) – 4:22
03. “Blue Prelude” (Joe Bishop, Gordon Jenkins) – 3:05
04. “Frankie and Johnny” (Traditional) – 5:27
05. “Birth of the Blues” (Lew Brown, B.G. DeSylva, Ray Henderson) – 5:52
06. “A Blues Offering” (Sonny Stitt) – 4:03
07. “Hymnal Blues” (Sonny Stitt) – 6:05
08. “Morning After Blues” (Sonny Stitt) – 3:01
Released: 1960
Recorded: December 21-22, 1959 in Los Angeles, CA
Genre: jazz
Length: 36:20
Label: Classic Records / Verve
Reissue Producers: Michael Hobson, Ying Tan
Personnel
* Sonny Stitt – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
* Lou Levy – piano
* Leroy Vinnegar – bass
* Mel Lewis – drums
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Blows the Blues
Sonny Stitt Lyrics
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