Sonny Stitt

The Bubba's Sessions 

I know to some, Record Store Day is a gimmick, but I always thought it was a great idea. If you like vinyl (as I do), finding something unique that has been prepared for a limited release is exciting. While conducting a quick browse today at our local record store, I noticed this out of the corner of my eye. "The Bubba's Sessions" were famous tenor man Sonny Stitt's last live recordings, and come from his performances at Bubba's Jazz Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale Florida on Remembrance Day 1981. I don't have a lot of his recordings in my collection (I am fortunate enough to have a copy of Tune Up, considered perhaps his best outing), but I think this one is going to find a home on my turntable. Sonny is very capably supported on this date by Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis on tenor. Sonny plays tenor on most of the numbers, but switches to alto for "What's New?" and "Old Folks". The rhythm section is Eddie Higgins on piano, Donn Mast on bass and Duffy Jackson on drums. There are a good variety of songs (jazz standards) spread over 11 tracks on 2 records. The crystal vinyl is also pretty cool! 

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood - Live From Madison Square Garden

                                                                

Live From Madison Square Garden is a double CD recording from Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood (there was also a DVD version) taken from a series of concerts they held in late February 2008, and released in 2009. Although they had collaborated in the mid 1960’s (prior to the formation of Cream and Traffic), they are best known for the band Blind Faith which they formed in 1969, a group that seemed to have great promise, yet only lasted a few months, including a single tour. Eric and Steve remained friends however, and performed together occasionally over the years. After a successful performance together at Eric’s 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival, they decided to perform together (with a band) at Madison Square Garden.

Several songs from the Blind Faith album were performed, along with selections from both Eric and Steve’s career’s. All of the involved musicians are in excellent form, and on the whole sound well rehearsed with all of the songs played enthusiastically. These shows were the first full Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood concerts in almost 40 years. To hear selections from their time together as Blind Faith played again live was something I really enjoyed, and one can’t help but wonder what might have happened if they had managed to stay together. As I like to say, highly recommended.