Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins - Sonny Side Up (Verve Vault Series) Vinyl LP

This 1957 date ranks as one of Dizzy’s best meetings of jazz royalty with titans Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins. It’s rumored that Gillespie playfully pitted the two against each other ahead of the session which resulted in the bar being raised and the creation of an iconic album. Ray Bryant (piano), Tommy Bryant (bass), and Charlie Persip (drums) join Gillespie, Stitt and Rollins on four tracks showcasing two different approaches to tenor saxophone. Stitt dives in head-first with fiery intensity on “The Eternal Triangle,” whereas Rollins counters with what can be seen as a more deliberate approach. Make no mistake, though, the two trade blows throughout the set leaving no doubt that both are heavyweight champions.

The Verve Vault series is always mastered from analog tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.