This compilation brings together eight of Sonny Stitt's superb soul-jazz-inspired releases, which many consider to be among his finest work

Born Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. on 2 February 1924, the man who would become Sonny Stitt was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of his era, recording over 100 albums. He was nicknamed the 'Lone Wolf' by jazz critic Dan Morgenstern because of his tendency rarely to work with the same musicians for long, despite his relentless touring and devotion to the craft. Stitt was sometimes regarded as a Charlie Parker mimic early in his career, but he gradually developed his own sound and style, particularly when performing on the tenor saxophone and occasionally even the baritone sax. He was placed for adoption in 1924 by his father and adopted by the Stitt family in Saginaw. He later began calling himself 'Sonny'.

Stitt ventured into soul jazz in the early 1960s, and it is this period of the great man's career that is in focus on this four-CD collection. Starting with his 1963 albums Salt and Pepper and Soul Shack, Sonny continued in this vein until 1965. His finest record during this period was perhaps the set he recorded with Booker Ervin in 1964, Soul People (Prestige). Around the same time, he appeared regularly at Ronnie Scott's in London, and a live 1964 encounter with Ronnie Scott, The Night Has a Thousand Eyes, eventually surfaced. Stitt recorded at Ronnie Scott's again in 1966 with resident guitarist Ernest Ranglin and British tenor saxophonist Dick Morrissey.

This compilation brings together eight of this maverick musician's superb soul-jazz-inspired releases, recorded in the early to mid-1960s, which many enthusiasts consider to be among his finest work.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

• Salt And Pepper
• S'Posin'
• Theme From Lord Of The Flies
• Perdido
• Stardust
• Sunday
• Soul Shack
• Love Nest
• Hairy
• For You
• Shadows

Disc 2:

• Are You Listening
• Amigos
• My Little Red Suede Shoes
• Ritmo Bobo
• I Told You So
• Chic
• Senor Jones
• Autumn Leaves
• Slave Maidens
• Baion Baby
• Estrellita
• Blue Blood Ritual
• Island Shout
• Barefoot Ball

Disc 3:

• Flame And Frost
• Let's Play Chess
• Double Dip
• Our Day Will Come
• My Main Man
• The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
• Broilin'
• My New Baby
• Misty
• Soul Food
• Shangri-La
• Mama Don't Allow It
• The Eternal One

Disc 4:

• Soul People
• Sonny's Blues
• C-Jam Blues
• I Can't Get Started/The Masquerade Is Over
• My Blue Heaven
• The Saber
• Katea
• Fools Rush In
• Look Down That Lonesome Road
• I Want To Go Home

Additional Details

Label: Enlightenment

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 298 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 11/21/25

UPC: 823564039725