![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
(Learn how and when to remove this template message) Contents |
Sonny Stitt with Strings: A Tribute to Duke Ellington | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by Sonny Stitt | ||||
Released | 1977 | |||
Recorded | 1977 Annex Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Label | Catalyst CAT-7620 | |||
Producer | Pat Britt | |||
Sonny Stitt chronology | ||||
|
Sonny Stitt with Strings: A Tribute to Duke Ellington is an album by American jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt featuring performances of compositions associated with Duke Ellington recorded in 1977 for the Catalyst label. [1]
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.
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra, which he led from 1923 until his death over a career spanning more than fifty years.
Catalyst Records was a record company and label that specialized in jazz. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1975. Catalyst released both new recordings and reissues. The catalogue was available through the 1980s, though recording ceased in 1977. This label is different from the subsidiary of BMG which was founded in the early 1990s.
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Allmusic site awarded the album 3 stars, stating, "No real surprises occur although the string charts are a cut above the usual. Stitt is at his most melodic and really romps on a few of these pieces". [2]
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".
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.
Hermenengildo 'Gildo' Mahones was an American jazz pianist.
"In a Mellow Tone", also known as "In a Mellotone", is a 1939 jazz standard composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics written by Milt Gabler. The song was based on the 1917 standard "Rose Room" by Art Hickman and Harry Williams, which Ellington himself had recorded in 1932. Howard Stern used a recording of this song as the opening theme to The Howard Stern Show from 1987 to 1994.
Duke Ellington at the Alhambra is a live album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded in 1958 at the Alhambra Theater, Paris and released on the Pablo label in 2002.
Studio Sessions New York, 1968 is the ninth volume of The Private Collection a series documenting recordings made by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington for his personal collection which was first released on the LMR label in 1987 and later on the Saja label.
Braggin' in Brass: The Immortal 1938 Year is a compilation album of American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington's 1938 recordings for the Brunswick label which was released in 1991.
Duke Ellington at Fargo, 1940 Live is a live album by the Duke Ellington Orchestra that won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 1980. The album was recorded at a dance in Fargo, North Dakota.
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.
Previously Unreleased Recordings is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt featuring compositions associated with Duke Ellington which was originally recorded in 1960 and released on the Verve label in 1973. Norman Granz probably didn't want it released during Johnny Hodges's lifetime and even here it is not billed as a Ellington tribute. On CD it can be found on Import as part of Rearin' Back / Tribute To Duke Ellington
Parallel-a-Stitt is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1967 and released on the Roulette label. The album represents Stitt's third featuring the varitone, an electronic amplification device which altered the saxophone's sound.
12! is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1972 and released on the Muse label.
Funk You! is an album by organist Don Patterson recorded in 1968 and released on the Prestige label.
Homage to Duke is an album by American pianist Dave Grusin released in 1993, recorded for GRP Records, and is Grusin's interpretation of Duke Ellington's music.
Sonny Stitt Plays Jimmy Giuffre Arrangements is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt performing music arranged by Jimmy Giuffre recorded in 1959 and originally released on the Verve label.
Creamy is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges featuring performances with members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra recorded in 1955 and released on the Norgran label.
Blues for Duke is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt featuring selections associated with Duke Ellington recorded in 1975 and released on the Muse label in 1978.
Forecast: Sonny & Red is an album by American jazz saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Red Holloway featuring performances recorded in 1976 for the Catalyst label.
I Remember Bird is an album by American jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt featuring performances recorded in 1976 for the Catalyst label.
Stomp Off Let's Go is an album by American jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt, featuring performances recorded in 1976 for the Flying Dutchman label.
We Thought About Duke is an album by trumpeter/flugelhornist Franz Koglmann and saxophonist Lee Konitz which was recorded in Austria in 1994 and released on the Swiss HatART label.
Mr. Gentle Mr. Cool, subtitled A Tribute to Duke Ellington, is an album by saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman recorded in 1994 and released on Herbie Mann's Kokopelli label.