Thursday, February 25, 2016

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Sonny Stitt and J.J. Johnson

Artist:Sonny Stitt and J.J. Johnson
Song:Elora
Album:Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell/J.J. Johnson





Here's a CD of two different recording sessions by two of the all time greats of jazz, Sonny Stitt and J.J. Johnson. They were first released as 10" LPs and then reissued on one 12" LP in 1957. I presume Prestige Records combined the two because Stitt is on both sessions. The first session was led by sax great Sonny Stitt. This was Stitt's first recording after spending two years in prison for narcotics. It was released on 10" LP in 1950 as All God's Children Got Rhythm. Musicians are Bud Powell on piano, Curly Russell on bass and Max Roach on drums. The second session is led by trombone great J.J. Johnson. It was released in 1951 on 10" LP as Modern Jazz Trombones Vol. 2. Stitt and Roach are also on this session with John Lewis on piano and Nelson Boyd on bass. Most of the songs including Elora are Johnson compositions. As I said, Prestige reissued these recordings on 1 12" LP in 1957. It was not unusual for labels to do that as 10" LPs were obsolete by the late 50s. I don't know why Roach's name wasn't on the cover because he played on both sessions. He was as well known as the other three guys. This album was released on CD in 1990 with some bonus alternate takes, mostly from the Johnson session. It's available as a budget CD and I think it's a must for jazz fans. Here's a video of Elora by Sonny Stitt and J.J. Johnson.

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