This CD reissues the complete contents of two former Lp's by saxophonist
Sonny Stitt: Turn It On and Black Vibrations. These are rather unusual entries in
Stitt's huge discography in that
Sonny often sounds like a guest performer on his own sessions rather than the leader. During the earlier date,
Stitt uses an electrical device (a Varitone) on his tenor that waters down his tone a bit. With organist
Leon Spencer, guitarist
Melvin Sparks and drummer
Idris Muhammad setting down unrelenting grooves on most of the five numbers (including the 11-minute title cut),
Stitt only seems to be making cameo appearances although trumpeter
Virgil Jones gets in a few good solos on three of the numbers. The later date (which also has some good
Jones trumpet) finds
Stitt playing acoustically and switching to alto on two of the six jams, but once again it is the nonstop chugging of
Sparks,
Muhammad and either
Leon Spencer or guest organist
Don Patterson that fuels the fire. It is silly to call these soul jazz outings "acid jazz" since
Sonny Stitt's solos are essentially bebop, but the grooves are danceable and funky. ~ Scott Yanow