Eternal Triangle – Sonny Stitt
A drum transcription of Charli Persip's playing on the iconic Sonny Stitt composition The Eternal Triangle.
- Recording: Dizzy Gillespie - Sonny Stitt - Sonny Side Up
- Recorded on: December 19, 1957
- Label: Verve (MGV 8262)
- Concert Key: B-flat
- Style: Swing (uptempo)
- Trumpet - Dizzy Gillespie
- Tenor Sax - Sonny Stitt
- Tenor Sax - Sonny Rollins
- Piano - Ray Bryant
- Bass - Tommy Bryant
- Drums - Charli Persip
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- Featuring Pat Metheny, Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride, Jackie McLean, Stephen Scott and Al Foster, Carnegie Hall, 1994
- Drummer Charli Persip tells how he felt at The Eternal Triangle session.
- Antonio Hart (as), Tim Green (as), Lee Pearson II (d), Allyn Johnson (p), Eric Wheeler (b), Samir Moulay (g), Caton Castle, Baltimore, 1/22/11
The Drum Transcription of Charli Persip's performance on the recording is available here, while the The Eternal Triangle sextet arrangement is available at MusicDispatch.com and other music distributors.
By 1957, Charli Persip (then known as "Charlie") was a much in-demand drummer for recordings and performances, both in small groups and in big bands. His first recording in 1957 was on February 18, a Lee Morgan/Wynton Kelly Septet date for Specialty records. Nine days later Charli and his Jazz Statesmen became part of Howard Rumsey and his Lighthouse All-Stars, recording for Liberty Records. On March 23, he did the first of seven sessions with Dizzy Gillespie's big band before the "Sonny Side Up" session. Sandwiched in between these session he still found time to do sessions for Lee Morgan, Ernie Wilkins, Don Bagley, Eddie Chamblee, six Dinah Washington sessions, and Benny Golson's "New York Scene" (see Something In B-flat). Obviously Charli was a very busy young man in 1957.
Now, give yourself a real treat: listen to and watch Charli tell you about his experience at The Eternal Triangle session.
The full sextet arrangement of The Eternal Triangle is available for purchase at Hal Leonard and other music distributors.
Now, give yourself a real treat: listen to and watch Charli tell you about his experience at The Eternal Triangle session.
The full sextet arrangement of The Eternal Triangle is available for purchase at Hal Leonard and other music distributors.
A six-page in-depth drum transcription of drummer Charli Persip playing drum on the famous recording of The Eternal Triangle. The audio clip starts at the exchanges.
-- Intro (in ¾)
-- Time playing behind the melody in (melody above staff)
-- Trumpet and drums trading 4s (2 choruses)
-- Time playing behind melody out (melody above staff)
-- Coda (in ¾)
The Eternal Triangle is perhaps the most famous “tenor battle” of all time. Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt certainly take it to the next level on this recording, but not without the help of the great Charli Persip. This transcription features some of Charli’s most fierce and energetic playing. His fours with longtime musical partner Dizzy Gillespie are not overshadowed by the tenor battle, as Charli Persip is a strong soloist in his own right.
You're not going to want to miss hearing and seeing Charli tell his side of the story about this legendary session on our YouTube channel.
Charli Persip's suggestions for drummers, "How Not To Play Drums," is available at MusicDispatch.com.
-- Intro (in ¾)
-- Time playing behind the melody in (melody above staff)
-- Trumpet and drums trading 4s (2 choruses)
-- Time playing behind melody out (melody above staff)
-- Coda (in ¾)
The Eternal Triangle is perhaps the most famous “tenor battle” of all time. Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt certainly take it to the next level on this recording, but not without the help of the great Charli Persip. This transcription features some of Charli’s most fierce and energetic playing. His fours with longtime musical partner Dizzy Gillespie are not overshadowed by the tenor battle, as Charli Persip is a strong soloist in his own right.
You're not going to want to miss hearing and seeing Charli tell his side of the story about this legendary session on our YouTube channel.
Charli Persip's suggestions for drummers, "How Not To Play Drums," is available at MusicDispatch.com.
Sonny Stitt
February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982
Alto saxophonist Sonny Stitt was 3 1/2 years younger than Charlie Parker. When they met in 1943, each was surprised to find the other had developed a virtually identical style. Sonny was always frustrated when he was labeled as just another disciple of Charlie Parker, knowing he had already developed his style before hearing recordings of Charlie Parker with Jay McShann. Read more...