Stanley Turrentine - The Blue Note Stanley Turrentine Quintet/Sextet Studio Sessions (2002)

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Stanley Turrentine - The Blue Note Stanley Turrentine Quintet/Sextet Studio Sessions (2002)

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With Mosaic Records expanding its horizons over the past few years, fans of many different styles have had the opportunity to expand their collections and recent Mosaic honorees have included Mildred Bailey, Eddie Condon, Bobby Hackett, Chico Hamilton, and Anita O’Day. But to those long time followers, it continues to be the hard bop verities of the Blue Note label that have often been synonymous with Mosaic’s mail order dynasty. Now, maybe it’s because so much of the catalog has already been mined by Capitol or that Mosaic has other motives for diversifying, but it seems like the Blue Note sets have been few and far between lately, making the appearance of this Stanley Turrentine set all the more worthwhile. Furthermore, fans of the iconic tenor saxophonist will find several albums herein that have never before appeared on compact disc.

Spread over the course of five discs, it’s the cream of the crop that constitutes the bulk of this superb package honoring one of the finest hard bop saxophonists of the modern era. Among a stable of Blue Note’s main men, Turrentine made his debut set as a leader for the label in 1960 and over the course of the next 10 years he would add to his own distinctive catalog while contributing to a whole slew of classics by fellow label mates. Together for only a brief time, Stanley and his brother Tommy teamed up with pianist Horace Parlan and his trio (George Tucker and Al Harewood) and produced such hard bop delights as Speakin’ My Piece and On the Spur of the Moment. Cut of similar cloth, Comin’ Your Way features the same quintet and while recorded in 1961, the album didn’t appear in stores until 1987. One of Stanley’s favorite standards, “My Girl Is Just Enough Woman For Me,” takes a bow here, as does Tommy’s appealing “Thomasville.”

Also receiving a inexplicably belated release, Jubilee Shout finds the Turrentine Brothers fronting an all-star sextet with Kenny Burrell, Sonny Clark, Butch Warren, and Al Harewood. A repeated four-note figure sets up the opening vamp of the title track, complete with tambourine and an authentic gospel feel that is positively infectious. Over the course of some ten minutes, each soloist builds the intensity and the end result is one of Turrentine’s most vital statements. Sorry to say, the rest of the session doesn’t quite live up to the expectations set by the opening gambit (possibly a reason for the session being held in the can), but there’s still enough of substance to make this one worth a listen.

Never before available in the US on CD, the 1963 sessions for A Chip Off the Old Block offer a different view of Turrentine as he collaborates with wife and organist Shirley Scott. The concept involved covering material associated with Count Basie and to go for the kind of light swinging groove that had been part and parcel of that great organization. Without resorting the typical bombast usually associated with the Hammond organ, Scott fits the bill perfectly and trumpeter Blue Mitchell is equally lyrical. A week before the issued sessions took place, a slightly different ensemble with trombonist Tom McIntosh and baritone saxophonist Charles Davis added tackled “Cherry Point” and “One O’Clock Jump” and while these performances were initially rejected and offer no revelations, their inclusion here makes for some interesting comparative listening.

Two 1964 sets that were posthumously released in 1980, In Memory Of and Mr. Natural could arguably considered the pick of the litter as they offer some atypical choices for material and the bands are only of the highest caliber. The former finds Blue Mitchell again on the front line with Stanley and Herbie Hancock at the piano. Two pieces associated with Randy Weston, the title track and “Niger Mambo,” are Latin romps with Mickey Roker adding some tasty percussion overdubs. As for the latter, it’s a revelation to hear Turrentine for his one and only appearance with Coltrane rhythm mates McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. “My Girl Is Just Enough Woman For Me” makes a return appearance and even the tepid Beatles line “Can’t Buy Me Love” ends up hitting a solid groove.

Somewhat of a minor gem, the 1969 date Another Story would be Turrrentine’s swansong for Blue Note and a return to more mainstream sensibilities after previously recording some misguided pop-inflected sides for the label. Trumpeter Thad Jones makes a rare appearance as sideman, with Cedar Walton, Buster Williams, and Mickey Roker rounding out the quintet. Five lengthy cuts give everyone a chance to stretch out and even if the sound is uneven, the musical statements are not. ~ AllAboutJazz

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Stanley Turrentine - The Blue Note Stanley Turrentine Quintet/Sextet Studio Sessions (2002)

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