Shangri-La (Sonny Stitt album)

Shangr-La is an album by the saxophonist Sonny Stitt featuring the organist Don Patterson recorded in 1964 and released on the Prestige label.^[1]

Shangri-La
Studio album by Sonny Stitt with Don Patterson
Released	1964
Recorded	March 19, 1964
Studio	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Genre	Jazz
Label	Prestige PR-7332
Producer	Ozzie Cadena
Sonny Stitt chronology
My Main Man (1964) Shangri-La (1964) Soul People (1964)
Don Patterson chronology
Goin' Down Home (1964) Shangri-La (1964) The Exciting New Organ of Don Patterson (1964)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[3]

The editors of AllMusic awarded the album three stars, and writer Richie Unterberger stated: "Shangri-La doesn't particularly stand out from other, similar albums he made at the time with organ, but it's a respectable set with both uptempo swingers and ballads."^[2]

A reviewer for Billboard noted that Patterson and James provide "first-rate support" to Stitt, and commented: "The tempos run the gamut from soulful to vibrant. It's all great jazz."^[4]

A writer for Negro Digest remarked: "Stitt has remained one of the most baffling... figures on the jazz scene. Nowhere is this more apparent than in... Shangri-La... The spark is still there, but the flame is missing. Where excitement is called for, there is often tedium."^[5]

Track listing

All compositions by Sonny Stitt except as noted.

1. "My New Baby" - 7:21
2. "Misty" (Erroll Garner, Johnny Burke) - 4:34
3. "Soul Food" - 7:51
4. "Shangri-La" (Matty Malneck, Robert Maxwell, Carl Sigman) - 4:44
5. "Mama Don't Allow" (Cow Cow Davenport) - 5:54
6. "The Eternal One" - 5:49

Personnel

• Sonny Stitt - tenor saxophone - vocal track 5
• Don Patterson - electronic organ
• Billy James - drums

References

1. Prestige Records Discography. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
2. Unterberger, R. Allmusic review. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
3. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 185. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
4. "Album Reviews / Jazz Spotlight". Billboard. December 26, 1964. p. 22 – via Google Books.
5. "On Record". Negro Digest. July 1965. p. 14 – via Google Books.