Sonny Stitt Plays cover

Released 70 years ago

Sonny Stitt Plays

Sonny Stitt · 1956

45 min · 10 tracks · jazz

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Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
56 /100
Foothills
Higher than 47% of albums we've rated

Stitt's improvisation shines through, but the album's cohesion is affected by the inclusion of alternate takes.

What we noticed

  • The first five tracks feature a consistent mid-tempo swing, while the last three tracks introduce slower ballads that create a contrasting dynamic.
  • Each track showcases Stitt's improvisational skills, with extended solos that highlight his technical proficiency on the saxophone.
  • The album includes two alternate takes of previously featured songs, which provide slight variations in phrasing and tempo.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • intimate moments of quiet reflection
  • melancholic melodies for late evenings
  • smooth transitions between emotional peaks
  • alternate takes enhancing listening depth

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer high-energy music
  • want immediate gratification

Where this album fits

Stylistic neighbors
Charlie Parker· John Coltrane· Ornette Coleman
New to Sonny Stitt? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 There'll Never Be Another You 4:33
  • 2 The Nearness of You 5:08
  • 3 Biscuit Mix 3:14
  • 4 Yesterdays 4:56
  • 5 Afterwards 3:14
  • 6 If I Should Lose You 4:15
  • 7 Blues for Bobby 4:48
  • 8 My Melancholy Baby 5:36
  • 9 The Nearness of You (alternate take) 5:22
  • 10 If I Should Lose You (alternate take) 4:29

What to play next

Sonny Stitt Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy Jones
Listen next

Sonny Stitt Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy Jones

1956
Jazz at the Hi-Hat
Go back to

Jazz at the Hi-Hat

1955
Full Sonny Stitt discography Where to start with Sonny Stitt Artists like Sonny Stitt
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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata