Sonny Stitt on tenor at Lennie's on the Turnpike, Peabody, Massachusetts, 1963

Photo by Salem State Archives (CC BY 4.0)

Sonny Stitt

Alto and Tenor Saxophones · born 2 February 1924 – died 22 July 1982

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

A favourite source of debate is the extent to which Stitt came up with his own style: how much he took from Charlie Parker, and how much came from inside. Originally from Boston, he joined the Billy Eckstine orchestra in 1944, then went to the Dizzy Gillespie sextet and big band. But he lost his New York cabaret card when getting into trouble over narcotics, and then spent time in Detroit and Chicago, concentrating for the moment on tenor sax (and very occasionally baritone). By 1950 he was back in New York and formed a frequently convened partnership with Gene Ammons. Thereafter he spent the rest of his life as a nomadic solo: there were occasional stints with Miles Davis (1960–61), Jazz At The Philharmonic, and the Giants Of Jazz (1971–2), but Stitt never stayed in one place for long. He began playing the alto again after Parker's death, and for a while he played it through the Varitone attachment, an electronic fad which he toyed with in the late 60s. As he grew older, Stitt settled into his alto style, and the Parker comparison began to seem redundant: both men were working off the same sheet, but Stitt forced his own agenda on to the notes, and could sometimes call up the shades of Lester Young and Wardell Gray (who had once given him some informal lessons). He recorded a bewildering number of albums for at least 30 different labels: many of the sessions are entirely routine, since Stitt had seemingly little interest in posterity, but when at his best and with sympathetic accompanists he always proved the durability of hardcore bebop improvisation. He loved the challenge of a jam session: Art Pepper's recounting of one battle with Stitt (in his autobiographical Straight Life) is unforgettable. Sonny never came off the road, and died only a few days after flying home from his final concert in Japan.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

As leader

  • Sonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt with Bud Powell and J.J. JohnsonSonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt with Bud Powell and J.J. Johnson
  • Sonny Stitt – Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy JonesSonny Stitt – Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy Jones
  • Sonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt PlaysSonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt Plays
  • Sonny Stitt – KaleidoscopeSonny Stitt – Kaleidoscope
  • Sonny Stitt – Stitt’s BitsSonny Stitt – Stitt’s Bits

Plays on

  • Modern Jazz Sextet – The Modern Jazz SextetModern Jazz Sextet – The Modern Jazz Sextet
  • Gene Ammons – All-Star SessionsGene Ammons – All-Star Sessions

Mentioned in text

  • Clifford Brown / Max Roach – Brown and Roach IncorporatedClifford Brown / Max Roach – Brown and Roach Incorporated
  • Wardell Gray – Memorial, Volume OneWardell Gray – Memorial, Volume One
  • Nat Adderley – That’s NatNat Adderley – That’s Nat
  • Thad Jones – Detroit-New York JunctionThad Jones – Detroit-New York Junction
  • Red Rodney Quintet – Modern Music from ChicagoRed Rodney Quintet – Modern Music from Chicago
  • Wardell Gray – Memorial, Volume TwoWardell Gray – Memorial, Volume Two
  • Miles Davis Quintet – MilesMiles Davis Quintet – Miles
  • Elmo Hope – Hope Meets FosterElmo Hope – Hope Meets Foster
  • Elmo Hope Sextet – Informal JazzElmo Hope Sextet – Informal Jazz
  • Bennie Green – Blows His HornBennie Green – Blows His Horn
  • Thelonious Monk – MonkThelonious Monk – Monk
  • Billy Taylor – Introduces Ira SullivanBilly Taylor – Introduces Ira Sullivan
  • Lucky Thompson & Oscar Pettiford – Vol. 2Lucky Thompson & Oscar Pettiford – Vol. 2
  • Kenny Dorham – Afro-CubanKenny Dorham – Afro-Cuban
  • J.R. Monterose – J.R. MonteroseJ.R. Monterose – J.R. Monterose
  • Lou Donaldson – Quartet Quintet SextetLou Donaldson – Quartet Quintet Sextet
  • Hank Mobley – With Donald Byrd and Lee MorganHank Mobley – With Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan
  • Cliff Jordan / John Gilmore – Blowing In From ChicagoCliff Jordan / John Gilmore – Blowing In From Chicago
  • Lee Morgan – Lee Morgan, Volume ThreeLee Morgan – Lee Morgan, Volume Three
  • Al Cohn – The Al Cohn QuintetAl Cohn – The Al Cohn Quintet
  • Tadd Dameron / John Coltrane – Mating CallTadd Dameron / John Coltrane – Mating Call
  • Sonny Rollins – Saxophone ColossusSonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus
  • Gene Ammons – FunkyGene Ammons – Funky
  • Thad Jones / Frank Wess / Teddy Charles / Mal Waldron / Doug Watkins / Elvin Jones – OlioThad Jones / Frank Wess / Teddy Charles / Mal Waldron / Doug Watkins / Elvin Jones – Olio
  • Paul Quinichette – On the Sunny SidePaul Quinichette – On the Sunny Side
  • John Coltrane – ColtraneJohn Coltrane – Coltrane
  • Curtis Fuller – New TromboneCurtis Fuller – New Trombone
  • Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi FiGene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi
  • Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 TenorsIdrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors
  • Prestige All-Stars – After HoursPrestige All-Stars – After Hours
  • Al Cohn / Zoot Sims – From A to ZAl Cohn / Zoot Sims – From A to Z
  • Matthew Gee – Jazz by GeeMatthew Gee – Jazz by Gee
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff JordanCliff Jordan – Cliff Jordan
  • Lou Donaldson Quintet – Swing and SoulLou Donaldson Quintet – Swing and Soul
  • Sonny Clark – Dial “S” For SonnySonny Clark – Dial “S” For Sonny
  • Lee Morgan – City LightsLee Morgan – City Lights
  • Sonny Clark – Sonny’s CribSonny Clark – Sonny’s Crib
  • John Coltrane – Blue TrainJohn Coltrane – Blue Train
  • Lee Morgan – The CookerLee Morgan – The Cooker
  • Johnny Griffin – The CongregationJohnny Griffin – The Congregation
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff CraftCliff Jordan – Cliff Craft
  • Bennie Green – Back on the SceneBennie Green – Back on the Scene
  • Cannonball Adderley – Somethin’ ElseCannonball Adderley – Somethin’ Else
  • Kenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume OneKenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume One
  • Miles Davis – MilestonesMiles Davis – Milestones
  • Leroy Vinnegar Sextet – Leroy Walks!Leroy Vinnegar Sextet – Leroy Walks!
  • Hampton Hawes Quartet – All Night Session! Vols. 1-3Hampton Hawes Quartet – All Night Session! Vols. 1-3
  • Max Roach + 4 – On the Chicago SceneMax Roach + 4 – On the Chicago Scene
  • John Coltrane – Traneing InJohn Coltrane – Traneing In
  • Frank Wess – Wheelin’ & Dealin’Frank Wess – Wheelin’ & Dealin’
  • Hal McKusick – Triple ExposureHal McKusick – Triple Exposure
  • Dorothy Ashby – Hip HarpDorothy Ashby – Hip Harp
  • Prestige Blues-Swingers – Outskirts of TownPrestige Blues-Swingers – Outskirts of Town
  • Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to ComeOrnette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come
  • The 3 Sounds – The 3 SoundsThe 3 Sounds – The 3 Sounds
  • Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Moanin’Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Moanin’
  • Dizzy Reece – Blues in TrinityDizzy Reece – Blues in Trinity
  • Horace Silver Quintet – Finger Poppin’Horace Silver Quintet – Finger Poppin’
  • Lou Donaldson with The Three Sounds – LD+3Lou Donaldson with The Three Sounds – LD+3
  • Charles Mingus – Mingus Ah UmCharles Mingus – Mingus Ah Um
  • Ornette Coleman – Tomorrow is the Question!Ornette Coleman – Tomorrow is the Question!
  • John Coltrane – SoultraneJohn Coltrane – Soultrane
  • Gene Ammons – Blue GeneGene Ammons – Blue Gene
  • Young Men from Memphis – Down Home ReunionYoung Men from Memphis – Down Home Reunion
  • Horace Parlan – Movin’ & Groovin’Horace Parlan – Movin’ & Groovin’
  • Sonny Red – Out of the BlueSonny Red – Out of the Blue
  • Kenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume TwoKenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume Two
  • Horace Parlan – Us ThreeHorace Parlan – Us Three
  • Art Blakey Jazz Messengers – CaravanArt Blakey Jazz Messengers – Caravan
  • Stan Getz – Sweet RainStan Getz – Sweet Rain
  • Miles Davis – And the Modern Jazz GiantsMiles Davis – And the Modern Jazz Giants