22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I ALWAYS give Sonny Props, September 15, 2006
This review is from: Stitt's Bits: Bebop Recordings 1949-1952 (Audio CD)
great sounding reissue of hall-of-fame "re-bop, or what you will" with some great jazzy r&b-ish sessions thrown in to boot. Obviously the Sonny quartets (and the J.J. stuff) are what put this over, but having them interspersed with some larger band sessions featuring Jug actually enhances overall listenability. As for the old vocals on a handful of cuts, I like this style a lot, but these don't always sound that great. Not too much of a problem really, as the music is always on point. You also get two of the all time top Bud Powell sessions. Harvey Pekar supplies the notes, and I guess he's a big enough deal nowadays to print that on the box. Even I must admit he does a really good job, better than most of the folks who write for these types of packages. In short, a box for the true believer. (aside from Bud Powell, J.J. Johnson, and Gene Ammons mentioned above, just some of the notable musicians included in this package are: Art Blakely, Nelson Boyd, Kenny Drew, Bennie Green, Jo Jones, Duke Jordan, Junior Mance, Earl May, Tommy Potter, Max Roach, Curly Russell, and Shadow Wilson.)
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