oh yea, surely i can tell the difference, thank you

I just listened to Sonny Side. It's a very early recording and both Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt were both really showing the influences of bird . I can see where it was hard to tell the difference. My guess is that the first tenor solo was Rollins, although he sounds like bird playing tenor. (as he did as a young man) Second solo of course the session leader Diz on trumpet, and then Sonny Stitt playing tenor. Stitt dosen't sound very comfortable on tenor. It was really fun listening to Diz sing. I had the great honor of playing with Diz a few years ago in Jacksonville Florida. He is one of my all time heros...........Kelsey

I can't find my CD but if you put 'ken moran' into the youtube search engine the dude's there playing Stitt's transcribed solo. and making a pretty good fist of it too if I don't say so myself.

I can't find my CD but if you put 'ken moran' into the youtube search engine the dude's there playing Stitt's transcribed solo. and making a pretty good fist of it too if I don't say so myself.

who said I always double post?

I have transcribed a huge amount of Sonny Rollins from '55 to '61 and also some of his stuff just prior to '55 with Miles and his solo album The Stopper. I agree early on he did sound like a bird disciple on tenor but this recording is Dec '57 and Rollins' individual style is well and truly apparent by now. The harder attack with his tongue at times, the staccato quaver pickup to some phrases, and the use of time delay in some phrases. These are all present in the second tenor solo. Stitt was a bopper through and through whether he had just moved to tenor or not his rhythmical phrasing would still be the same or at the least similar. The first solo has very articulate double time passages throughout (a major characteristic of stitt) and there is no delaying of time throughout any phrase (a typical bopper). They both used the same mouthpiece on this recording, although that does not mean they will sound the same but it does give them similar sound attributes. It is my strong opinion that the first solo is Stitt, nevertheless both solos sound great.

it's funny, i thought i could tell sonny rollins with my ears closed. after going back and listening to this track i wasn't really sure. they both sound very similiar. but that eternal triangle. amazing. i have literally smacked myself in the head while driving down the road listening to that tune.

thanks man you made me laugh with that "smacked myself" stuff, mainly cause i have to agree it's hard to believe somebody is that good.