Sonny Stitt led a number of excellent record dates in 1959, especially at the end of the year when he produced three LPs for Verve over a span of three sessions with pianist Lou Levy, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Mel Lewis. Playing alto sax throughout this album, Stitt hardly sounds like a Charlie Parker clone, something that unfortunately was a frequent claim by tin-eared critics throughout a fair portion of his career. The music includes several potent originals, especially “Hymnal Blues” and the slow, powerful “Morning After Blues.” Originally released in 1970.

Tracklist

1. Blue Devil Blues
2. Home Free Blues
3. Blue Prelude
4. Frankie And Johnny
5. Birth Of The Blues
6. A Blues Offering
7. Hymnal Blues
8. Morning After Blues