Sugar Stanley Turrentine

• 1 Sugar 10:04
• 2 Sunshine Alley 10:46
• 3 Impressions 14:12
• Total Runtime 35:02

Info for Sugar

One of the main weapons in sax legend Stanley Turrentine's arsenal was the knowledge that a real groove requires just the right amount of energy without hitting the listener over the head. That knowledge is put to practical use throughout Turrentine's first recording for CTI, „Sugar“.

Aided by the subtly soulful organ of Butch Cornell and the smoldering sensuality of George Benson's guitar, Turrentine churned out solidly grooving (though not literally 'funk') tunes that employ blues-based economy and bob-schooled chops in equal measure. The fiery trumpet interjections of Freddie Hubbard keep things moving, but Turrentine's mastery of the mid-tempo groove is exemplified throughout, whether on the down-and-dirty jam 'Sunshine Alley' or a soulful take on John Coltrane's 'Impressions.' And don't worry, the music is leagues more tasteful than the questionably raunchy cover art.

Stanley Turrentine, tenor saxophone
Freddie Hubbard, trumpet
George Benson, guitar
Ron Carter, bass
Lonnie Liston Smith, electric piano (tracks 1, 4)
Butch Cornell, organ (tracks 2, 3)
Billy Kaye, drums (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4)
Richard 'Pablo' Landrum, congas (tracks 2, 3, 4)
Hubert Laws, flute (track 5)
Hank Crawford, alto saxophone (track 5)
Johnny 'Hammond' Smith, organ, electric piano (track 5)
Billy Cobham, drums (track 5)
Airto Moreira, percussion (track 5)

Recorded on November 1970 (tracks 1-4) at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
Recorded on July 18, 1971 (track 5) at Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles Engineered by Ray Thompson, Rudy Van Gelder Produced by Creed Taylor

Digitally remastered

Stanley Turrentine
A legend of the tenor saxophone, Stanley Turrentine was renowned for his distinctively thick, rippling tone, an earthy grounding in the blues, and his ability to work a groove with soul and imagination. Turrentine recorded in a wide variety of settings, but was best-known for his Blue Note soul-jazz jams of the '60s, and also underwent a popular fusion makeover in the early '70s. Born in Pittsburgh on April 5, 1934, Turrentine began his career playing with various blues and R&B bands, with a strong influence from Illinois Jacquet. He played in Lowell Fulson's band with Ray Charles from 1950-1951, and in 1953, he replaced John Coltrane in Earl Bostic's early R&B/jazz band. After a mid-'50s stint in the military, Turrentine joined Max Roach's band and subsequently met organist Shirley Scott, whom he married in 1960 and would record with frequently.

Upon moving to Philadelphia, Turrentine struck up a chemistry with another organist, Jimmy Smith, appearing on Smith's 1960 classics Back at the Chicken Shack and Midnight Special, among others. Also in 1960, Turrentine began recording as a leader for Blue Note, concentrating chiefly on small-group soul-jazz on classics like That's Where It's At, but also working with the Three Sounds (on 1961's Blue Hour) and experimenting with larger ensemble settings in the mid-'60s. As the '70s dawned, Turrentine and Scott divorced and Turrentine became a popular linchpin of Creed Taylor's new, fusion-oriented CTI label; he recorded five albums, highlighted by Sugar, Salt Song, and Don't Mess With Mister T. While those commercially accessible efforts were artistically rewarding as well, critical opinion wasn't as kind to his late-'70s work for Fantasy; still, Turrentine continued to record prolifically, and returned to his trademark soul-jazz in the '80s and '90s. Turrentine passed away on September 12, 2000, following a massive stroke. (Steve Huey)

Booklet for Sugar