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They were born on the same day, the same as today - February 2.
Both are more than worthy of being remembered, especially after you listen to the music they played and, most importantly, how!
Sonny Stitt (February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982) and
Stan Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991).
They are too different to be compared, and it is absolutely not necessary.
And really, what can an African American boy who was born in Boston and given up for adoption by his father (later a college music professor) to the Stitt family from Saginaw, Michigan, have in common with a son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants that was born in Philadelphia and lived in New York from the age of six?
But both of them were saxophonists, musicians of the same generation, both had great sound and were outstanding jazz improvisers and innovators.
In addition both of this musicians worked in Europe for a long time, and also pathed through a difficult way from drug addiction to healing.
Sonny Stitt was one of the leading saxophonists of the 50s and 60s, who worked at the intersection of bebop and hardbop.
Kenny Clarke said about him: "Even if there had not been a Bird
(Charlie Parker), there would have been a Sonny Stitt."
Stan Getz was a tenor saxophonist who tried to bring the concept of cool style to perfection and dreamed of extracting from the tenor saxophone, "A sound like a human voice", as he said.
(And I think he has succeeded pretty much.)
Whether I listened to Stan Getz's "Desafinado" or Sonny Stitt's "Lover Man" the both were incredibly interesting and just great.
I think the main things that unite them are great talent and devoted love for jazz and music in general.
Their best records forever entered the treasury of jazz music, and they themselves became the part of jazz history long ago.
Happy Birthday Stan Getz! Happy Birthday Sonny Stitt!
Thank You So Much!
