Sonny Side Up

Artist: Dizzy Gillespie/Sonny Stitt/Sonny Rollins
Total time: 37:37
Label: Polygram
Availability: Sold out
Item #: 20062622

Available in U.S. only. Cover art displayed on website may vary from product shipped. Please see printed catalog for accurate cover art.

List Price: $18.98
Member Price: $17.45

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Review

Dizzy Gillespie brings together tenor saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins for four extended cuts, and in the process comes up with one of the most exciting "jam session" records in the jazz catalog. While the rhythm section of pianist Ray Bryant, bassist Tommy Bryant, and drummer Charlie Persip provides solid rhythmic support, Stitt and Rollins get down to business trading fours and reeling off solo fireworks. Apparently, Gillespie had stoked the competitive fires before the session with phone calls and some gossip, the fallout of which becomes palpable as the album progresses. On "The Eternal Triangle," in particular, Stitt and Rollins impress in their roles as tenor titans, with Stitt going in for sheer muscle as that most stout of bebop cutters and Rollins opting for some pacing as a more thematic player. In the midst of the rivalry (certainly some torch was being passed, since Rollins was soon to become the top tenor saxophonist in jazz), an embarrassment of solo riches comes tumbling out of both these men's horns. Gillespie adds his own split commentary on the proceedings with a casual solo on "After Hours" and a competitively blistering statement on "I Know That You Know." With an at ease rendition of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" rounding things out, Sonny Side Up comes off as both a highly enjoyable jazz set and something of an approximation of the music's once-revered live cutting session. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide

Read About This Recording

It would not be an exaggeration to call this CD one of the most significant jazz recordings of the 1950s and a timeless treasure. During the '50s, producer Norman Granz loved to team together top bop and swing players in a variety of settings on his Norgran, Clef and Verve labels. In addition to his classic traveling jam sessions, Jazz At The Philharmonic, Granz put together studio sets that had remarkable personnel, a jam session feel and plenty of fireworks.

In 1957 Dizzy Gillespie was matched with the two tenors Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt for another classic date. With accompaniment supplied by pianist Ray Bryant, bassist Tommy Bryant and drummer Charlie Persip, four wonderful performances resulted. "Eternal Triangle" is an uptempo bebop romp while "After Hours" has the musicians (particularly Ray Bryant) digging into the blues. "On the Sunny Side of the Street" not only has a very hip Gillespie vocal but three concise horn solos, each of which is memorable. And "I Know That You Know," despite the best efforts of Gillespie and Stitt, is stolen by Sonny Rollins during a dazzling stop-time solo.

This release is essential for all serious jazz collections. This is straightahead jazz at its best.

—Scott Yanow

Product Info

Cover art displayed on website may vary from product shipped. Please see printed catalog for accurate cover art.

Extended Article

The tenor saxophone battle has a long and distinguished hertiage in jazz. But it took leader Dizzy Gillespie, with his decade-long credentials and his celebrated good nature, to enable Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt to get down to very serious business and have some fun.

And for all the great saxophone blowing here, there's some phenomenal trumpet playing, too. With nearly three-fourths of the music in stereo for the first time, and using the original-session tapes, this is the classic summit meeting in all its glory.

On the Sunny Side of the Street; The Eternal Triangle; After Hours; I Know That You Know.

Dizzy Gillespie, Trumpet/Vocals; Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Tenor Saxes; Ray Bryant, Piano; Tommy Bryant, Bass; Charlie Persip, Drums.

CD Special Features

• Meticulous restoration

• High-resolution, 20-bit digital transfer

• New liner notes, photographs, original cover art and more

Tracks + Soundclips

Sonny Side Up
	1. On the Sunny Side of the Street	5:41
	2. Eternal Triangle	14:10
	3. After Hours	12:19
	4. I Know That You Know	5:27

Details and Credits

Product Details

Label: Polygram
Release date: 1957/12/19
Instrumental

Styles

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Album Credits
Performance Credits
Charlie Persip	Drums
Dizzy Gillespie	Trumpet
Ray Bryant	Piano
Sonny Rollins	Sax (Tenor)
Sonny Stitt	Sax (Tenor)
Tommy Bryant	Bass

Technical Credits
Aric Lach Morrison	Reissue Producer
Burt Goldblatt	Photography
Chuck Stewart	Photography
Hat Nguyen	Art Direction
Herman Leonard	?
Loren Schoenberg	Liner Notes
Nat Hentoff	Liner Notes
Nichell Delvaille	?
Norman Granz	Producer
Patricia Lie	Art Direction
Peter Pullman	?
Richard Seidel	Executive Producer
Robert Silverberg	Reissue Production Assistance
Scott Townsend	Reissue Design
Suha Gur	Reissue Mastering