Gene Ammons with Sonny Stitt - We'll Be Together Again

Tag team tenors - and a little bit of alto

Ammons & Stitt collaborated on several recordings, and this 1961 studio album is an excellent example of what they could do together. This is not a sax competition, it's an exuberant display by two top players who are comfortable with each other and in love with their music.
This is a mostly high-energy collection of jazz standards and blues (10 tracks, 41 minutes). It's hard to pick which tune is the most fun for both players and listeners. It may be a toss-up between "New Blues Up and Down" and "Water Jug." Then again, their rendition of "But Not For Me" has plenty of spark. Difficult choice.
On the slow side, "My Foolish Heart" is definitely the outstanding track. Stitt is on alto for this one, and both men do wonderful things with this beautiful tune. The cadenza space at the end has the two playing off each other. This one and "We'll Be Together Again" are the album's ideal selections for when the lights are down low.
If you enjoy tag-team match-ups between saxophonists, this CD is a great choice at a good price. Look for other albums from Ammons & Stitt, but also check out my other favorite tenor team of that era, Al Cohn & Zoot Sims (especially "From A to Z" and "Jazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note"). June 13, 2008

Absolutely nice 40 minutes of two tenor saxophones...

I thought about picking up this CD for a few months before I gave in and made the deal. I had heard some Sonny Stitt years ago, and liked it. I had heard about Gene "Jug" Ammons, but not heard him playing. I knew this was recorded back in 1961 by two friends who began in the bands of the 1940's and joined up off and on throughout the '50's. Since I've never had a disc reissued by "Original Jazz Classics" that I didn't like, I felt it was worth taking a chance. Glad I did. This is wonderful. "Red Sails in the Sunset" has always been one of my favorite tunes, and to my surprise, it is not extensively covered by '50's jazz groups. Gene and Sonny treat the song right for 4:20 to kick off "We'll Be Together Again." Another of my all-time faves, "But Not For Me" is next. Other standards include "My Foolish Heart" and "Autumn Leaves." While the album is mostly uptempo, the few ballads are lovely, too. The rhythm section of piano, bass and drums is subordinate on this project, but more than competent. Sonny switches to alto for two songs. The whole thing is just plain good, and is worth playing two or three times in a row, if you, like the concluding song title, have "Time on My Hands." Listen to the Amazon samples. Any person who likes classic jazz sax would enjoy this disc. This music is accessible and melodic, yet so much more adventurous than "smooth jazz." March 17, 2004

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