Dub Modal

Disc 2

A couple of videos come to mind. The first is the Bill Cosby one where he talks about Stitt coming on stage while Bill was sitting in on the drums (after having a few lessons). Stitt calls for the band to play Cherokee and Cosby loses it immediately, with Max Roach tapping his shoulder to cue him on getting off the stage. Cosby makes it funny, but it comes across that indeed Stitt is all business. The other is that live Charlie Parker tribute with Howard McGhee. McGhee is hopping around during Stitt's solo and at about 5:26 appears to catch Stitt's ire. Looks like Stitt tells him to "move" and then an additional command at around 5:40. You can see McGhee's demeanor isn't quite the same after that exchange. More words toward McGhee at 7:20. At 20:20 Stitt gets a short interview, and maybe he's had a few but it seems the host cuts that interview a little short... Then there's this audio only of a Dex/Stitt session with I think Don Patterson on B3. Most of yall have probably heard this?

Shepp Quartet's Splashes

Calling Dex one of the worst sax players ever is some real edgelord stuff. Whatever the reason, I can't agree but then I'm not a professional musician.

Indeed! NP: Via the Conn ed. CD...I won't be going for the new TP reissue, but I dig this album. Not Sonny's best but still enjoyable.

Ben Riley & Larry Gales holding it down.

A friend sent this to me the other day. Helluva mashup. I didn't know Bocephus could play slide like that.

Eh, I don't know. You read enough about this guy and he really comes across as a dirtbag. Of course, in Thailand the Buddhist monks will tell you that if your statue doesn't come on loan from the monastery then it's bad mojo all around, esp if it's just the head.

From 1998. I enjoy the trio passages of Moran, Osada and Green the most. Osby can play but he seems disconnected from the group a lot of the time. Funny how it sounds like the closer, 52nd St Theme, is based on Woody Woodpecker's signature laugh. And now starting up:

Obscured by Clouds

Actually, I misrepresented what Giddins was saying. Rectifying that with a direct quote from his liners for 12!: "...perhaps he has been too visible. As one of the most frequently recorded jazz soloists, he has inevitably put down some uninspired music and a lot of people, this writer included, passed over what he was doing. Last year we had cause to wake up. For one thing, Sonny was travelling with the Giants of Jazz and playing well, sometimes brilliantly. For another thing, a record called Tune-Up! was made, with three exemplary compatriots (Sam Jones, Barry Harris & Alan Dawson), and it caught Stitt playing with astonishing imagination and verve..." He's tracking pretty much with exactly what you're saying. And btw; these liners were written in/around 1973, so that Giants of Jazz tour would have been 1972. Tune-Up! was recorded in February of '72.

Double LP CD with:

Got into jazz and the Mosaic game way too late and so only have disc 2 from this set as it was OOP. Tracks from the Chocolate Dandies, Fletcher Henderson orchestra, Mound City Blue Blowers, etc. are just incredible here. Any other comps out there that track with the rest of this set? This one doesn't seem to show up much on the secondary market...

As I was listening to Stitt's 12! this afternoon, I found this in Giddins' liner notes: "...Sonny was a classic. He (Stitt) has evolved a style that, far from being close to Bird's, and this was the kind of criticism once used so glibly to dismiss his own individuality, is highly personal and idiodynamic. He does not merely play bop, but instead, uses this vocabulary of bop to play himself." Giddins also echoes (or presages) what has been said in this thread already, and that is that jazz fans were essentially spoiled of the riches that Stitt provided as he performed and recorded with great frequency. FWIW, on 12! Stitt plays tenor on 5 of the 7 tracks.

Thread on Stitt inspired me to put on: I've got the 32 Jazz CD reissue, but this Muse cover is much better. Nice work from all involved on this album. Jones' bass definitely has that 70s studio aesthetic but it's all good here.

Got it. Need to check those out....

Disc 2 Blue Leo is such a great song

On the Fantasy albums? Or in general?

And when they "talk" to you, too. Our husky throws some looks and other nonverbal cues that are so communicative that he may as well be speaking. Condolences to Larry. She indeed looks like a sweetheart.