A Tribute to Duke Ellington (originally released as Sonny Stitt With Strings) showcases Stitt's long-out-of-print Catalyst jazz record from 1977. It features seven familiar Duke Ellington songs. Saxophonist Sonny Stitt was a disciple of Charlie Parker. This record is one of the stronger and more detailed records in Stitt's discography, with Stitt employing a string section (The Bill Finegan String Ensemble). It's not surprising that Stitt maintained the same approach to strings as Charlie Parker did a decade prior, with his sax soaring above them rather than being held down by them. Sonny Stitt (on alto and tenor) is also joined by a fine rhythm section featuring pianist Gildo Mahones, bassist Allen Jackson and Clarence Johnston on drums.
