Tracks:
I Know That You Know
Moten Swing
Try A Little Tenderness
Twelfth Street Rag
New York Blues
Scrapple From The Apple
Down Home Blues
Back To My Home Town
Tune Up
Autumn In New York
Two For Timbucktu
Blues For Bags
Body And Soul
After You've Gone

Performer Notes:

• Personnel: Sonny Stitt (alto & tenor saxophone), Roy Eldridge, Jack Sheldon, Lee Katzman (trumpets), Frank Rosolino (trombone), Al Pollen (tuba), Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Jones, Amos Trice, Bobby Timmons, Jimmy Rowles (piano), Herb Ellis (guitar), Ray Brown, Buddy Clark, George Morrow, Edgar Willis (bass), Jo Jones, Ed Thigpen, Lawrence Marable, Lenny McBrowne, Kenny Dennis, Stan Levey (drums).
• Recorded from 1956 to 1961. Liner notes by James Isaacs.
• Personnel: Sonny Stitt (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Herb Ellis (guitar); Jack Sheldon, Roy Eldridge, Lee Katzman (trumpet); Frank Rosolino (trombone); Al Pollen (tuba); Amos Trice, Jimmy Jones , Jimmy Rowles, Oscar Peterson, Bobby Timmons (piano); Lenny McBrowne, Ed Thigpen, Jo Jones , Larance Marable, Stan Levey, Kenny Dennis (drums).
• Audio Remasterer: Gary N. Mayo.
• Liner Note Author: James Isaacs.
• Recording information: Los Angeles CA (09/14/1956-03/07/1961); Los Angeles, CA (09/14/1956-03/07/1961); New York, NY (09/14/1956-03/07/1961).
• Unknown Contributor Role: Gary N. Mayo.
• Arranger: Ralph Burns.
• One of the best horn players to spring from Charlie Parker's bebop conception, alto and tenor saxophonist Sonny Stitt came up in the '40s to maintain a productive career until the time of his death in the early '80s. Whether eating up frenetic bop lines, digging into the blues, or waxing sweetly on a ballad, Stitt found fresh ground to work, never forsaking expression for speed. This bargain roundup of his Verve sides covers the latter half of the '50s and early '60s, with several sides from a variety of combo dates plus a few numbers cut with a string orchestra. Backed by such stellar pianists as Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Jones, Bobby Timmons, and Jimmy Rowles, Stitt seemingly tosses off highlights like "Autumn in New York," "Scrapple From the Apple," and a fleet and swinging "I Know That You Know." Always assured and full of fire, Stitt delivers on this perfect introduction for newcomers. ~ Stephen Cook

Producer: Kenny Washington (Compilation)

Format: CD (1 Disc)

Country: USA

Studio/Live: Studio

Release Date: 31 December, 1992

Label: Verve