Although
Joel Dorn's 32 Jazz label mostly concentrates on repackaging reissues from the Muse catalog, there have been some important discoveries. This 1997 CD has a previously unreleased
Sonny Stitt club appearance that took place in San Francisco's Keystone Korner in September 1981. It is a special all-star concert in which
Stitt splits his time between tenor and alto and is joined by pianist
Cedar Walton, bassist
Herbie Lewis, drummer
Billy Higgins, and (on a few numbers) vibraphonist
Bobby Hutcherson, altoist
Richie Cole, and
John Handy on alto and tenor.
Stitt, a master of the bebop vocabulary, was not an innovator, but he was a fiery competitor who could blow most musicians off the stand when he chose to. In this case, he had a lot of respect for
Cole and
Handy, but still played at his best, just in case. The CD is mostly a showcase for the leader, who is well featured on the ad lib "Dig Dr. Woody," "Everything Happens to Me," and "Laura." Other than a five-song ballad medley that features each of the saxophonists plus Walton and
Hutcherson, not that much is heard from
Handy, while
Cole (who gets in a few good licks) is generally overshadowed by
Stitt. Other highlights include lengthy renditions of "Lover Man" and "Wee."
Sonny Stitt recorded scores and scores of bop-oriented sessions throughout his productive career, but his fans will still be happy that 32 Jazz has added such a strong date to his discography. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow