Charlie Parker has had many admirers and his influence can be detected in numerous styles, but few have been as avid a disciple as Sonny Stitt. A wonderful blues and ballad player whose approach influenced John Coltrane, Stitt could rip through an up-tempo bebop stanza, then turn around and play a shivering, captivating ballad. He was an alto saxophonist in Billy Eckstine's seminal big band playing alongside other emerging bebop stars like Gene Ammons and Dexter Gordon. He went on to play in Dizzy Gillespie's big band and sextet, switching more and more to tenor in 1949, and at times was in a two-tenor unit with Ammons. He recorded with Bud Powell and J.J. Johnson, led many combos in the '50s, and re-joined Gillespie for a short period in the late '50s. After a brief stint with Miles Davis in 1960, he reunited with Ammons, continuing to lead bands through the '70s and early '80s. These sessions for Work Done date from the late 1970s and find Stitt at the peak of his powers, live in the white heat of performance with Ray Drummond, Eddie Marshall and others at the San Francisco jazz venue, the Keystone Korner.

With Ed Kelly, piano; Ray Drummond, bass; “Smiley” Winters, drums

Tracks: Barkan the Blue; Indiana; The Shadow of Your Smile; Lover Man; Constellation; You Are the Sunshine of My Life; Stardust; On a Clear Day; LooseWalk.

 Barkan the Blues

 Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be)

 Constellation

 Loose Walk