Parallel-a-Stitt

Last updated
Parallel-a-Stitt
Parallel-a-Stitt.jpg
Studio album by Sonny Stitt
Released 1967
Recorded 1967
Genre Jazz
Label Roulette
SR-25354
Producer Henry Glover
Sonny Stitt chronology
Deuces Wild
(1966) Deuces Wild1966		Parallel-a-Stitt
(1967)		 Made for Each Other
(1968) Made for Each Other1968

Parallel-a-Stitt (subtitled Sonny Stitt on the Varitone) is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1967 and released on the Roulette label. [1] The album represents Stitt's third featuring the varitone, an electronic amplification device which altered the saxophone's sound. [2]

Sonny Stitt American jazz saxophonist

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 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 sax.

Roulette Records was an American record company and label founded in 1957 by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Kahl, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed director.

The Varitone was a woodwind pickup and effects unit, allowing direct amplification of the instrument and the introduction of various electronic effects. It was marketed in 1967 by the Selmer Company, which developed units for flute, saxophone, and clarinet. The system included an integrated pickup microphone and a control box which allowed the player to use effects such as tremolo, basic EQ, simultaneous sub-octaves and echo in conjunction with a purpose built amplifier. The ceramic microphone was developed to withstand high sound pressure and moisture levels, and built into the head joint of the flute, the neck-joint of the saxophone, and the barrel joint of the clarinet. The pickup was wired to a preamplifier and control box which was either mounted to the bottom key guard, clipped to the player's belt, or hung on a cord around the players neck.

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]

Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars. [3]

Track listing

All compositions by Sonny Stitt except as indicated

  1. "Hello George" - 3:25
  2. "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" (Duke Ellington) - 5:02
  3. "Bye Bye Blackbird" (Ray Henderson, Mort Dixon) - 4:27
  4. "Because It's Love" - 2:35
  5. "Satin Doll" (Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Mercer) - 4:40
  6. "The Shadow of Your Smile" (Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster) - 5:18
  7. "Chinatown My Chinatown" (William Jerome, Jean Schwartz) - 3:45
  8. "Jeep's Blues" (Ellington, Johnny Hodges) - 2:09
  9. "Laura" (David Raksin, Mercer) - 2:45

Personnel

Alto saxophone type of saxophone

The alto saxophone, also referred to as the alto sax, is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s, and patented in 1846. It is pitched in E♭, and is smaller than the tenor, but larger than the soprano. The alto sax is the most common saxophone and is commonly used in concert bands, chamber music, solo repertoire, military bands, marching bands, and jazz. The fingerings of the different saxophones are all the same so a saxophone player can play any type of saxophone.

Tenor saxophone type of saxophone

The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B♭ (while the Alto is pitched in the key of E♭), and written as a transposing instrument in the treble clef, sounding an octave and a major second lower than the written pitch. Modern tenor saxophones which have a high F♯ key have a range from A♭2 to E5 (concert) and are therefore pitched one octave below the soprano saxophone. People who play the tenor saxophone are known as "tenor saxophonists", "tenor sax players", or "saxophonists".

Jerome Richardson was an American jazz musician, tenor saxophonist, and flute player, who also played soprano sax, alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto flute and piccolo. He played with Charles Mingus, Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstine the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, Kenny Burrell, and later with Earl Hines' small band.

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<i>I Keep Comin Back!</i> album by Sonny Stitt

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<i>Inter-Action</i> album by Sonny Stitt

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<i>Soul Electricity!</i> 1968 studio album by Sonny Stitt

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<i>Night Letter</i> (album) 1969 studio album by Sonny Stitt

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<i>Turn It On!</i> 1971 studio album by Sonny Stitt

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<i>Blues for Duke</i> 1978 studio album by Sonny Stitt

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<i>Sonny Stitt with Strings: A Tribute to Duke Ellington</i> 1977 studio album by Sonny Stitt

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References

  1. ↑ Edwards, D. & Callahan, M. Roulette Album Discography, Part 1 accessed January 4, 2013
  2. ↑ Myers, M. Sonny Stitt: Varitone Redux, All About Jazz , December 20, 2011
  3. 1 2 Allmusic Review, accessed January 8, 2012
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