Sonny Stitt - Goin down slow - 1972

Late work by Sonny Stitt on Prestige -- 2 albums with a really great feel! Going Down Slow has Sonny hitting a groove that's a bit more laidback than some of his funkier albums for Prestige, but one that's still pretty darn great overall! The sound is almost in a Stanley Turrentine mode at CTI -- with fuller arrangements behind his saxophone solos, and a really easygoing groove throughout! There's a bit of strings in the backdrop, but these are often used somewhat lightly -- and on the best numbers, Sonny's tone dominates and really directs the feel of the tune. Other players include Hank Jones on piano, Thad Jones on trumpet, and both Wally Richardson and Billy Butler on guitar -- the latter of whom handles the solos. Titles include "Acid Funk Reprise" (aka "Moving Beauty"), plus "Miss Ann Lisa Sue & Sadie", "Where Is Love", "Living Without You", and "Goin Down Slow". So Doggone Good is a standout acoustic set from the great Sonny Stitt -- recorded during an early 70s stretch when he was doing a fair bit of work with electric players! The format here is great -- and even though the instrumentation hearkens back to the earlier years of Sonny's career, there's a sense of soulful flow here that definitely shows some lessons learned from the electric dates. Sonny's blowing alto and tenor with a lean, mean, confident tone -- and the rest of the group features Hampton Haws on some very fluid acoustic piano, plus Reggie Johnson on bass and Lenny McBrowne on drums. Titles include "I Don't Know Yet", "Your Love Is So Doggone Good", "Back Door", "Orange Ashtray", and "Speculation"