Sonny Stitt • Legends of Acid Jazz

Review:

This CD reissues the complete contents of two former Lp's by saxophonist Sonny Stitt: Turn It On and Black Vibrations. These are rather unusual entries in Stitt's huge discography in that Sonny often sounds like a guest performer on his own sessions rather than the leader. During the earlier date, Stitt uses an electrical device (a Varitone) on his tenor that waters down his tone a bit. With organist Leon Spencer, guitarist Melvin Sparks and drummer Idris Muhammad setting down unrelenting grooves on most of the five numbers (including the 11-minute title cut), Stitt only seems to be making cameo appearances although trumpeter Virgil Jones gets in a few good solos on three of the numbers. The later date (which also has some good Jones trumpet) finds Stitt playing acoustically and switching to alto on two of the six jams, but once again it is the nonstop chugging of Sparks, Muhammad and either Leon Spencer or guest organist Don Patterson that fuels the fire. It is silly to call these soul jazz outings "acid jazz" since Sonny Stitt's solos are essentially bebop, but the grooves are danceable and funky.

by Scott Yanow

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Reseña:

Este CD reedita el contenido completo de dos antiguos Lp del saxofonista Sonny Stitt: Turn It On y Black Vibrations. Estas son entradas bastante inusuales en la enorme discografía de Stitt, ya que Sonny a menudo suena como un artista invitado en sus propias sesiones en lugar de como el líder. Durante la primera fecha, Stitt usa un dispositivo eléctrico (un Varitono) en su tenor que suaviza un poco su tono. Con el organista Leon Spencer, el guitarrista Melvin Sparks y el baterista Idris Muhammad estableciendo implacables ritmos en la mayoría de los cinco números (incluyendo el corte de título de 11 minutos), Stitt sólo parece hacer apariciones cameo aunque el trompetista Virgil Jones consigue algunos buenos solos en tres de los números. En una fecha posterior (que también tiene una buena trompeta Jones) Stitt toca acústicamente y cambia a alto en dos de los seis números, pero una vez más es el continuo resoplido de Sparks, Muhammad y Leon Spencer o el organista invitado Don Patterson lo que aviva el fuego. Es una tontería llamar a estas salidas de soul jazz "acid jazz" ya que los solos de Sonny Stitt son esencialmente bebop, pero los ritmos son bailables y funky.

por Scott Yanow


Tracks:
1.Turn It On [11:08]
2.Bar-B-Que Man [7:50]
3.Miss Riverside [9:20]
4.Cry Me A River [3:50]
5.There Are Such Things [3:56]
6.Goin' To D.C. [7:20]
7.Aires [5:30]
8.Black Vibrations [6:38]
9.Calling Card [6:22]
10.Where Is Love? [2:20]
11.Them Funky Changes [7:50]
Total Time: 01:13:05

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