If the album note writer is to be believed, Sonny Side Up featuring Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt is a chance for the two Sonny's, both tenor sax players, to engage in a little firendly competition and do it side by side with Dizzy acting as the referee.
The notes writer puts forth that in the late '40's and early '50's many alto sax players switched to the tenor because of Charlie Parker's complete dominance in the field. The tenor, though, was the instrument Coleman Hawkins' owned and not one he was gonna let some punks steal from under him (see: Sonny Meets Hawk for when that reign ended).
On The Sunny Side Of The Street features both sax players along with some vocals by Gillespie. The vocals give the tune a dated feeling from a time that was just right around the corner, yet doesn't feel too close anymore. The liners say that Rollins' solo is a variation of one Louis Armstrong made famous on his own version.
Sonny Side Up was recorded in December of 1957 at Nola Recording Studio in New YOrk City and produced by Norman Granz. Gillespie, Rollins and Stitt are accompanied by Ray Briant on piano, Tommy Bryant on bass and Charli Persip on the kit. Verve released both the original album and the reissue from which this track is taken.
1 comment:
what about all that sonny r. knowledge you got?
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