The Battle of Birdland

The Battle of Birdland
Live album by Sonny Stitt and Eddie Davis
Released	1955
Recorded	1954
Venue	Birdland, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Label	Roost RLP/RST 1203
Sonny Stitt chronology
Jazz at the Hi-Hat (1954) The Battle of Birdland (1955) Sonny Stitt Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy Jones (1955)
Eddie Davis chronology
Eddie Davis Trio (1953) The Battle of Birdland (1954) Modern Jazz by Eddie Davis (1955)

The Battle of Birdland (also released as Tenor Battle at Birdland and Jaws N' Stitt at Birdland) is a live album by saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Eddie Davis recorded at Birdland in New York City in 1954 and originally released on the Roost label. ^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

Scott Yanow, in his review for Allmusic, calls the album "a spirited and typically competitive jam session". ^[2] The All About Jazz review stated "both tenormen were in the prime of their great careers at this stage and the music is wonderful... this recording is a particularily[ sic ] rare and memorable item indeed". ^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Sonny Stitt except as indicated

1. "Jaws" (Eddie Davis) – 9:55
2. "I Can't Get Started" (Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke) – 7:21
3. "Marchin'" – 8:45
4. "S.O.S." – 7:50
5. "Whoops!" 8:17 additional track on CD release
6. "All the Things You Are" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) – 8:23 additional track on CD release
7. "Rollercoaster" – 9:06 additional track on CD release
8. "Don't Blame Me" (Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh) – 7:51 additional track on CD release

Personnel

• Eddie Davis, Sonny Stitt – tenor saxophone
• Harry "Doc" Bagby – organ
• Charlie Rice – drums

References

1. Edwards, D. & Callahan, M.Royal Roost/Roost Album Discography Archived April 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine accessed January 2, 2013
2. Yanow, S. Allmusic Review accessed January 2, 2013
3. Patten, D. R. Sonny Stitt and Eddie Lockjaw Davis - Tenor Battle at Birdland, May 1, 2001.