Sonny Stitt : Kaleidoscope

Length: 44:26

  Art Blakey - Drums
  Bill Massey - Trumpet
  Charles Bateman - Piano
  Ernie Shepherd - Bass
  Ernie Sheppard - Bass
  Gene Ammons - Sax (Baritone)
  Gene Wright - Bass
  Humberto Morales - Timbales
  Joe Newman - Trumpet
  John Houston - Piano
  John Hunt - Trumpet
  Junior Mance - Piano
  Kenny Drew - Piano
  Larry Townsend - Vocals
  Matthew Gee - Trombone
  Shadow Wilson - Drums
  Sonny Stitt - Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor)
  Teddy Stewart - Drums
  Tommy Potter - Bass
  Wesley Landers - Drums

Deftly handling the alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, bebop giant Sonny Stitt is heard to perfection here on a variety of early-'50s dates. Stitt not only shows off his patented speed throughout, but he goes a long way in dispelling criticisms of him being all fire and no grace. The 16-track disc kicks off with four tight, Latin -tinged swingers featuring an octet that includes trumpeter Joe Newman and timbales player Humberto Morales. Switching to piano quartet mode for the bulk of the disc, Stitt ranges effortlessly from frenetic blasts ( 'Cherokee' ) to golden-hued ballads ( 'Imagination' ). Capping off the set with four bonus cuts featuring the likes of Gene Ammons and Junior Mance, Stitt delivers one of the top sets of performances from the late bebop era. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide