| All Star Sessions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1956 | |||
| Recorded | March 5 and October 28, 1950; January 13, 1951; and June 16, 1955 | |||
| Studio | New York City and Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 54:40 | |||
| Label | Prestige PRLP 7050 | |||
| Producer | Bob Weinstock | |||
| Gene Ammons chronology | ||||
| ||||
All Star Sessions is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded between 1950 and 1955 and released on the Prestige label. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [3] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [4] |
The Allmusic review by Stewart Mason stated: "A bop classic, All-Star Session was the recording debut of Gene Ammons as a leader with his group the Gene Ammons All-Stars, featuring his fellow tenor saxophonist Sonny Stitt... Those looking to explore Stitt and Ammons' enormous catalogs (both together and separately) could do much worse than starting right here". [2]
All compositions by Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt, except where indicated.
Note
Eugene "Jug" Ammons, also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and R&B.
Edward Hammond Boatner Jr., known professionally as Sonny Stitt, was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of his generation, recording more than 100 albums. He was nicknamed the "Lone Wolf" by jazz critic Dan Morgenstern because of his tendency to rarely work with the same musicians for long despite his relentless touring and devotion to jazz. Stitt was sometimes viewed as a Charlie Parker mimic, especially earlier in his career, but gradually came to develop his own sound and style, particularly when performing on tenor saxophone and even occasionally baritone saxophone.
The Swingin'est is an album by American trombonist Bennie Green and saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1958 and released on the Vee-Jay label. The album has also been released under the title Juggin' Around.
Boss Tenors in Orbit! is a 1962 studio album by American jazz tenor saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons.
Stitt Plays Bird is an album by American jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt, recorded in 1963 and issued on Atlantic Records in 1964. As the title suggests, it was recorded as a homage to the legendary saxophonist Charlie Parker, who was nicknamed "Bird."
Soul People is an album by American saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Booker Ervin, and organist Don Patterson. Just like his previous Soul Shack, Soul People features heavily blues-drenched jazz. The original album was recorded in 1964 and issued by Prestige in early 1965. In 1993, it was reissued on CD by Prestige, featuring three additional tracks.
Blues Up & Down is an album by saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin recorded in 1961 and released on the Jazzland label.
Sonny's Dream (Birth of the New Cool) is an album by saxophonist Sonny Criss recorded in 1968 and released on the Prestige label.
Groove Blues is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1958 and released on the Prestige label. The album was recorded at the same session that produced The Big Sound.
Boss Tenors is an album by saxophonists Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt recorded in Chicago in 1961 and originally released on the Verve label.
The Chase! is a live album by saxophonists Dexter Gordon and Gene Ammons recorded in Chicago in 1970 and released on the Prestige label.
Left Bank Encores is a live album by saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons recorded in Baltimore in 1973 and released on the Prestige label in 2002. The album was recorded at the same concert that produced God Bless Jug and Sonny.
Kaleidoscope is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt compiling tracks recorded in 1950-52 and released on the Prestige label in 1957. The 1991 CD reissue added four bonus tracks to the original LP.
Gene Ammons and Friends at Montreux is a live album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1973 and released on the Prestige label.
Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell/J. J. Johnson is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt compiling tracks recorded with trombonist J. J. Johnson or pianist Bud Powell in 1949–50 and released on the Prestige label in 1957. The 1990 CD reissue added five bonus tracks to the original LP. The cover art was done by cartoonist Don Martin of MAD magazine fame.
Sonny Stitt is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in Chicago in 1958 and originally released on the Argo label.
Night Letter is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label. The album features Stitt using the varitone, an electronic amplification device which altered the saxophone's sound.
Brothers-4 is an album by organist Don Patterson with saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label. The album features guitarist Grant Green, who was credited as Blue Grant for contractual reasons, being then signed to Blue Note Records. The 2001 CD release added 6 bonus tracks recorded at the same session but issued on other albums.
My Buddy: Sonny Stitt Plays for Gene Ammons is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt featuring selections associated with his fellow musician Gene Ammons recorded in 1975 and released on the Muse label in 1976.
Jug and Sonny is a compilation album by saxophonist Gene Ammons, with Sonny Stitt featured on two tracks, collecting recordings made between 1948 and 1951, some of which were originally released as singles, that was issued by the Chess label in 1960.