Two of
Sonny Stitt's rarer Prestige LP's are combined together and reissued in full on this single CD. He jams on three standards and three basic originals (four on tenor and two on alto) in 1963 with organist
Jack McDuff, bassist
Leonard Gaskin and drummer
Herbie Lovelle; "Sunday" and "Love Nest" are standouts. The later date finds
Stitt on an electrified tenor (called the Varitone) which he often used in the late '60s. His distinctive tone mostly survives and he is in excellent form on boppish tunes and originals playing with a quartet that also includes organist
Gene Ludwig, the young guitarist
Pat Martino and drummer
Randy Gelispie.
Stitt recorded many records in his career so this CD is not quite essential but his fans should enjoy the above-average effort. ~ Scott Yanow