A no-nonsense blues set from a saxophonist who never needed any frills to make his point. Stitt digs into these standards with his signature grit and commanding tone.
- Recorded on July 28, 1958, "Only the Blues" was released on the TP4 Music label. The album features Stitt on tenor saxophone alongside a studio rhythm section. It was released in September 1958.
- "Only the Blues" showcases Sonny Stitt's deep connection to the blues tradition, a foundational element of his improvisational language throughout his career. The album captures Stitt in a period of prolific recording for various labels.
- The release falls within a period where Stitt was consistently delivering accessible, yet artistically valid, jazz and blues performances to a growing audience.
Sonny Stitt was a formidable tenor saxophonist known for his aggressive, bebop-influenced style, and a frequent presence on the jazz scene for decades. In 1958, Stitt was at a creative peak, having already established himself as a major voice in hard bop and blues-inflected jazz.
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