Biography
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.
Releases
La Place - Stanley Turrentine
Wonderland - Stanley Turrentine
One Night With Blue Note Preserved, Vol. 3 - Art Blakey - Stanley Turrentine - Jimmy Smith - Kenny Burrell - Lou Donaldson - Freddie Hubbard - Johnny Griffin - Curtis Fuller - Walter Davis Jr.
Straight Ahead - Stanley Turrentine
Another Story - Stanley Turrentine
Always Something There - Stanley Turrentine
Common Touch - Stanley Turrentine
The Look Of Love - Stanley Turrentine
Return Of The Prodigal Son - Stanley Turrentine
A Bluish Bag - Stanley Turrentine
The Spoiler - Stanley Turrentine
Easy Walker - Stanley Turrentine
Rough ‘N Tumble - Stanley Turrentine
Joyride - Stanley Turrentine
Mr. Natural - Stanley Turrentine
Hustlin’ - Stanley Turrentine
A Chip Off The Old Block - Stanley Turrentine
Never Let Me Go - Stanley Turrentine
Jubilee Shout!!! - Stanley Turrentine
That’s Where It’s At - Stanley Turrentine
Z.T.’s Blues - Stanley Turrentine
Dearly Beloved - Stanley Turrentine
Up At Minton’s, Vol. 2 - Stanley Turrentine
Up At Minton’s, Vol. 1 - Stanley Turrentine
Comin’ Your Way - Stanley Turrentine
Blue Hour - Stanley Turrentine - The Three Sounds
Look Out! - Stanley Turrentine
News
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ANNOUNCING THE TONE POET SOCIETY & 2025 LINE-UP
Blue Note Records announces the launch of the Tone Poet Society, a new subscription service dedicated to the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series. Today, we're also announcing the 2025 line-up of the acclaimed series which is produced by the “Tone Poet” Joe Harley and features definitive all-analog, 180g... read more
CLASSIC VINYL REISSUE SERIES 2024 TITLES ANNOUNCED
Blue Note Records has announced the next run of titles in the Classic Vinyl Reissue Series, which presents affordable 180g all-analog vinyl reissues in standard packaging that are mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes and manufactured at Optimal. Curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman, the series... read more
TONE POET AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUE SERIES 2023 LINE-UP
Blue Note Records has announced the upcoming 2023 line-up for the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series. The acclaimed series is produced by the “Tone Poet” Joe Harley and features all-analog, 180g audiophile vinyl reissues that are mastered from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray of Cohearent Audio. Tone... read more
NEW CLASSIC VINYL REISSUE SERIES TITLES ANNOUNCED
Blue Note Records has announced the next run of titles in the Classic Vinyl Reissue Series, which presents affordable 180g all-analog vinyl reissues in standard packaging that are mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes and manufactured at Optimal. Curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman, the series... read more
TONE POET AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUE SERIES 2021-2022 LINE-UP
Blue Note Records has announced the upcoming 2021-2022 line-up for the acclaimed Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series, which will kick off March 12 with Charles Lloyd & The Marvels’ new album Tone Poem, the first-ever new release to be included in the series. Fittingly, it was Lloyd who first dubbed Harley... read more
REVISED 2020 RELEASE SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR THE TONE POET AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUE SERIES
Blue Note Records has announced a revised 2020 release scheduled for the acclaimed Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series. Pandemic-related closures temporarily put production on hold, but the series will resume again on August 28 with the release of three titles: a first-time vinyl release of vibraphonist Bobby... read more
TONE POET AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUE SERIES CONTINUES IN 2020
Blue Note Records has announced the continuation of the acclaimed Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series in 2020. Launched in 2019 in honor of the label’s 80th Anniversary, the Tone Poet series is produced by Joe Harley and features all-analog, 180g audiophile vinyl reissues that are mastered from the original... read more
BLUE NOTE LAUNCHES THE TONE POET AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUE SERIES
In honor of Blue Note Records’ 80th Anniversary, the legendary Jazz label is launching the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series. Blue Note President Don Was brought in “Tone Poet” Joe Harley—co-founder and co-producer of the acclaimed Music Matters audiophile vinyl series—to produce this new... read more
