Sonny Stitt - Only the Blues

2012 European CD reissue.

This release presents Sonny Stitt’s complete original album Only the Blues (Verve MGV8250), featuring the saxophonist and the great Roy Eldridge backed by the Oscar Peterson Trio plus Stan Levey. The set consists primarily of blues performances (“The String” is based on rhythm changes and was also recorded by Stitt under the title “The Eternal Triangle”). As a bonus, an additional blues performance by nearly the same group (Jo Jones replaces Levey on drums) recorded live at the Newport Jazz Festival that same year, as well as all of the complete tunes recorded by Stitt in a quartet format (minus Eldridge) during the Only the Blues session, and two extra blues recorded by Stitt in a quartet format.