Ike Quebec - It Might As Well Be Spring (1964)

Note: the CD I listened to was the 2006 Rudy Van Gelder Edition.

This album was recorded on December 19, 1961, but the LP wasn't released until 1964. In the meantime, Quebec tragically died of lung cancer in January 1963 at age 45. Delayed album releases happened fairly often with Blue Note in the '60s as musicians recorded many brilliant sessions while Alfred Lion calmly stacked tape boxes like a jazz leprechaun sitting on a pot of gold. Some records appeared years or even decades later. In any case, this is quality stuff and well worth a listen, regardless of year.

I always use the word "meaty" to describe Quebec's tone, but I'm getting out my thesaurus and opting for "luxuriant" in today's post. The program is relaxed, romantic, and perfect for late night listening. Pairs quite well with Quebec albums Blue & Sentimental and/or Heavy Soul. Organist Freddie Roach is the perfect band member, knowing exactly when to shine and when to support. I gotta tell ya, I was completely unfamiliar with Quebec until I fell down the RVG Editions rabbit hole around 2020. And boy-oh-boy am I happy to have finally heard his stuff. I simply love his tone. Had he lived, he would have no doubt given other soul-jazz saxophone players such as Stanley Turrentine and Lou Donaldson a run for their money throughout the decade.

Quebec - tenor saxophone
Freddie Roach - organ
Milt Hinton - bass
Al Harewood - drums

Original liner notes by Nat Hentoff.

Reviews/ratings:

• CashBox: "The jazzophiles will want this one."
• DownBeat (★★★★): "the playing is as relaxed and spontaneous, yet cohesive, as if these were four steady companions."
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★★½
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: The album is brief (35:37), but like Quebec's playing, it is all very economical - no wasted space here. Of the four standards and two Quebec originals, the highlight is the beautiful title track, a wonderful Rodgers & Hammerstein ballad originally from the 1945 film, State Fair.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Easy Living (1987)
Blue & Sentimental (1963)
Heavy Soul (1962)

Ike Quebec - Easy Living (1987)

These tracks were recorded at Ven Gelder Studio on Saturday, January 20, 1962, but not released until the latter half of 1987. While revitalizing the label in the mid-'80s, Bruce Lundvall and Michael Cuscuna started rereleasing classic Blue Note albums while also clearing the vaults of previously unreleased recordings by Blue Note artists. That last part is where this album comes in and the late release explains the uncharacteristic album cover they chose instead of a Reid Miles-inspired classic Blue Note design.* This 1985 article in CashBox magazine suggests that Alfred Lion didn't release some '60s albums because the material was "just not up to Blue Note standards." I will note that the article is vague about which recording Lion was referring to. I also couldn't find any printed example where this release was publicized or promoted. The only printed reference of the album I could find was a simple ★★★ rating in The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999).

The sextet present at the session is of an unusual instrumentation, most notably the presence of two tenor sax players. Regardless of instrumentation or quality, I simply couldn't pass up an album from Quebec because I love his tone.

Quebec - tenor saxophone
Stanley Turrentine - tenor saxophone
Bennie Green - trombone
Sonny Clark - piano
Milt Hinton - bass
Art Blakey - drums

CD liner notes by Michael Cuscuna.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

Tracks are the usual mix of standards and originals from Quebec and band members Green and Turrentine. The album gets off to a weak start, picks up in the middle, and ends in spectacular fashion with the three best cuts, all standards: I've Got A Crush On You, Nancy (With The Laughing Face), and Easy Living.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Blue & Sentimental (1963)
Heavy Soul (1962)

*When the album was reissued on vinyl in 2013, it was given a more appropriate album cover:

Blog post #2200

Stanley Turrentine - Rough 'N' Tumble (1966)

Turrentine and a star-studded band groove through some soul/pop/jazz tunes (mostly covers) with top-notch arrangements; however, I ultimately agree with what is written in The Penguin Guide to Jazz: "Very enjoyable, if scarcely any kind of classic." But sometimes "enjoyable" is just what I'm after.

Original liner notes by Ira Gitler.

Turrentine - tenor saxophone
Blue Mitchell - trumpet
James Spaulding - alto saxophone
Pepper Adams - baritone saxophone
Grant Green - guitar
McCoy Tyner - piano
Bob Cranshaw - bass
Mickey Roker - drums
Duke Pearson - arrangements

Reviews/ratings:

• Record World: "beautiful sound on six groovy, commercially appealing tracks"
• CashBox: "A powerhouse package"
• DownBeat (★★): "not recommended for serious listening"
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #149
• Billboard R&B: #20
• Billboard Jazz: #12
• Record World Jazz: #1

Tracks:

1. And Satisfy - originally recorded by Nancy Wilson in 1964. Wilson's single release in 1964 "bubbled under" Billboard's Hot 100 at #106.
2. What Could I Do Without You - written and recorded by Ray Charles in 1956. His single peaked at #5 on Billboard's R&B chart.
3. Feeling Good - written by for the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd. While the musical wasn't a big hit, this song has become a standard.
4. Shake - written by Sam Cooke and recorded by him at the last recording session before his death. Posthumously, the song reached #7 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B chart.
5. Walk On By - most famously recorded by Dionne Warwick (#6 pop, #1 R&B, #7 AC). I was previously familiar with this cut from its inclusion on the stellar Blue Note compilation, Blue Bacharach.
6. Baptismal - the premiere recording of this piece, written in the 1950s by trumpeter John Hines.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
T Time (1995)
Ballads (1993)
The Best of Stanley Turrentine (1990)

Fuse One - The Complete Recordings (1989)

"These tunes are heard here for the first time on compact disc, in brand-new direct-to-digital remixes prepared specifically for this release by Creed Taylor."

Creed Taylor put together this collective for his CTI label, so it's basically an ad hoc supergroup recording session. As Taylor writes on the back CD insert:

Fuse One is conceived as a forum in which major contemporary musicians perform according to their own musical disciplines and interact without the constraints that accompany leader responsibilities. Each player brings in new compositions and ideas.

And while the pedigree is impeccable (production from Taylor and engineering from Rudy Van Gelder), the product is usually less than the sum of parts. In any case, this 1989 compilation on the Musicmasters label purports to be "The Complete Recordings," but there was a third album that Taylor and Van Gelder had nothing to do with, so we'll just conveniently ignore it exists for the purposes of this post.

I get a chuckle from the fact that, while he appears on only one of the eleven tracks, George Benson receives top billing on the CD cover. Because you know I'd design it the exact same way.

---

FUSE ONE (1980)
7 tracks, 36 minutes

Enjoyable, but fairly generic, smooth jazz. In other words, 15 year old me in 1981 would have loved it. The material is 'over-arranged' in sharp contrast to Taylor's suggesting that the artists play without constraints. The lack of originality could be the reason why the album was largely ignored by critics other than a cursory Billboard review.

Joe Farrell - saxophones & flute (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
John McLauglin - guitar (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Larry Coryell - guitar (tracks 2, 5, 7)
Ronnie Foster - keyboards (1, 3, 5)
Jorge Dalto - keyboards (track 2)
Victor Feldman - keyboards (tracks 3, 4)
Don Grusin - keyboards (track 6)
Jeremy Wall - keyboards (tracks 1-6, arrangements tracks 1-7)
Hugh McCracken - harmonica (track 7)
Stanley Clarke - bass (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7)
Will Lee - bass (tracks 2, 5)
Lenny White - drums (tracks 2, 7)
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler - drums (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5)
Tony Williams - drums (track 6)
Paulinho DaCosta - percussion (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Roger Squitero - percussion (track 2, 7)

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #9
• CashBox Jazz: #14
• Record World Jazz: #14

Tracks: Two compositions each from Clarke and McLaughlin, one each from Foster and Wall, plus a Latin arrangement of a tune by 19th century Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. The better tunes are Grand Prix (written by Foster), Sunshine (Clarke), and Double Steal (Wall).

---

SILK (1982)
4 tracks, 34 minutes

This second album utilized arrangements by Leon "Ndugu" Chancler and the resultant R&B sound found more commercial success, yet was again ignored by the critics (except, of course, Billboard again). I enjoy this album more than the previous one.

Stanley Turrentine - tenor saxophone (tracks 8, 11)
Tom Browne - trumpet (tracks 8, 9, 11)
Wynton Marsalis - trumpet (tracks 9, 10)
Dave Valentine - flute (tracks 9, 10)
Eric Gale - guitar (tracks 8-11)
George Benson - guitar (track 11)
Stanley Clarke - bass (tracks 8-11), musical direction (tracks 8-11)
Marcus Miller - bass (tracks 9)
Ronnie Foster - keyboards (tracks 8-11)
Todd Cochran - keyboards (track 8)
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler - drums (tracks 8-11), arrangements (tracks 8-11)
Sammy Figueroa - percussion (tracks 8-11)
Manolo Badrena - percussion (tracks 9, 10)

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #139
• Billboard Jazz: #14
• Billboard R&B: #44
• CashBox: #175
• CashBox Jazz: #16
• Radio & Records Jazz Radio National Airplay: #15

Tracks: Only four tracks here, all a bit longer than what was found on the previous album (7-9 minutes each). I'd rank them 1) Silk, 2) Sunwalk, 3) Hot Fire, and 4) In Celebration Of The Human Spirit.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but I really wished someone would have turned me to some Tom Browne albums when I was a teen.

Various Artists - Blue TV (2001)

EU import

Subtitled "Blue Note Takes A Commercial Break," this is simply a weak compilation of tunes thrown together because the tracks were - at some point - used in a television ad in the US or UK. This CD might be my least favorite of the Blue Series. Despite the occasional good tune, Blue TV is too inconsistent to work for me as an album. Here's an explanation from the liner notes, written by British DJ/record label exec Dean Rudland:

I started to research which tracks went with which TV ads, but that quickly seemed to be a lot of work so my efforts waned. Then I discovered one the McFerrin tracks was used for a Cadbury ad in the UK with the lyrics altered from "Thinkin' about your body, thinkin' about your face" to "Thinkin' about your chocolate, thinkin' about your taste" and that quickly drained any desire to seek out other ads. You're on your own.

Tracks:

1. Unforgettable - Peggy Lee
   From the 1964 album, In Love Again!
2. Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin
   From the 1988 album, Simple Pleasures
3. Let There Be Love - June Christy
   From the 1957 album, Fair And Warmer!
4. Thinkin' About Your Body - Bobby McFerrin
   From the 1986 album, Spontaneous Inventions
5. They All Laughed - Chet Baker ✔
   Recorded 1957, released in 1995 on the album Embraceable You
6. Theme From Bullitt - Wilton Felder
   From the 1969 album, Bullitt
7. Fly Me To The Moon - Julie London ✔
   From the 1973 album, The End Of The World
8. Summertime - Joe Williams
   From the 1961 album, Have A Good Time With Joe Williams
9. Wild Is The Wind - Nina Simone
   From the 1959 album, Nina Simone At Town Hall
10. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Peggy Lee ✔
    From the 1969 album, A Natural Woman
11. I Can See Clearly Now - Holly Cole Trio
    From the 1993 album, Don't Smoke In Bed
12. On The Street Where You Live - Holly Cole Trio
    From the 1992 album, Blame It On My Youth
13. Let's Face The Music And Dance - Jackie McLean ✔
    From the 1960 album, Sine, Swang, Swingin'
14. Lazy Bones - Jeri Southern
    From the 1958 album, Southern Breeze
15. Comin' Home Baby - Buddy Rich Big Band
    From the 1969 album, Buddy & Soul
16. Feeling Good - Stanley Turrentine ✔
    From the 1966 album, Rough 'N' Tumble
17. Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) - Us3 ✔
    From the 1993 album, Hand On The Torch

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but this is a reminder that earlier this year I put together an unofficial, possibly incomplete list of titles in the Blue Series. Available here: The Blue Series (1991-2002).

Previously revisited for the blog:

US releases
Blue Funk (2001)	UK releases
Blue '70s (2000)	Blue 'N' Soul (2001)
Latino Blue (2000)	Blue Series Sampler (2001)
Blue Brazil (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Jump Blue (1999)	Blue 45s (1998)
Blue Boogie (1999)	Blue York Blue York (1996)
Blue Valentines (1999)	So Blue So Funky Vol 2 (1994)
Capitol Rare (1999)	California Cool (1993)
Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)	So Blue So Funky (1991)
Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Bacharach (1999)
Midnight Blue (1999)
Blue Movies (1999)
Blue 'N' Groovy Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Break Beats Vol 3 (1996)
Blue Break Beats (1992)
Blue Beat (1991)
Blue Bossa (1991)

Stanley Turrentine - Ballads (1993)

The title is self-explanatory: here we're treated to a compilation of slow standards performed by the prolific saxophonist, Stanley Turrentine, on the Blue Note label. The lack of any liner notes indicates to me that this compilation was produced for the budget market. Highly enjoyable, nonetheless, especially for a quiet night at home with that special someone (slow dancing optional but recommended).

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks (9 tracks, 65 minutes):

1. Willow Weep For Me, from the 1961 album, Blue Hour (with The Three Sounds).
2. Since I Fell For You, from the 1961 album, Blue Hour.
3. Then I'll Be Tired Of You, from the 1987 album, Comin' Your Way (recorded 1961).
4. Someone To Watch Over Me, from the 1961 album, Comin' Your Way.
5. They All Say I'm The Biggest Fool, from the 1968 album, Easy Walker.
6. More Than You Know, from the 1985 album, ZT's Blues (recorded 1961).
7. God Bless The Child, from the 1963 album, Never Let Me Go.
8. Watch What Happens, from the 1980 album, Ain't No Way (recorded 1969).
9. A Child Is Born, from the 1985 album, Straight Ahead.

My personal top picks are Since I Fell For You (with a lovely piano solo from Gene Harris), Someone To Watch Over Me, the bluesy They All Say I'm The Biggest Fool, and More Than You Know (with a lovely guitar solo from Grant Green).

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
T Time (1995)
The Best of Stanley Turrentine (1990)

Various Artists - Blue 45s: The Ultimate Jukebox (1998)

BLUE SERIES MONTH (FEBRUARY, 2025)

UK import

A simple but brilliant idea: compile some early single releases issued by the Blue Note label. I'd wager this may be the first and only CD release of many (if not all) of these single edits.

Liner notes by author Roy Carr.

Tracks:

	Title	Artist	Year
1	Dat Dere (Pt. 1)	Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers	1960
2	Camp Meetin'	Don Wilkerson	1962	✔
3	Funky Mama (Pt. 1)	Lou Donaldson	1962	✔
4	Wavy Gravy (Pt. 1)	Kenny Burrell	1956	✔
5	Blind Man, Blind Man (Pt. 1)	Herbie Hancock	1963
6	I Know	Freddie Roach	1963
7	Brown Sugar	Freddie Roach	1964	✔
8	Brother Isaac	Donald Byrd	1965
9	Fat Judy (Pt. 1)	'Big' John Patton	1965	✔
10	The Jody Grind (Pt. 1)	Horace Silver	1966
11	Rev. Moses	Lou Donaldson	1967	✔
12	Psychedelic Sally	Horace Silver	1968
13	Fungii Mama (Pt. 1)	Blue Mitchell	1964	✔
14	Bucket	Jimmy Smith	1963	✔
15	Move Your Hand (Pt. 1)	Lonnie Smith	1969
16	Spanish Harlem	Bobbi Humphrey	1971
17	The Turnaround (Pt. 1)	Hank Mobley	1965	✔
18	The Rumproller (Pt. 1)	Lee Morgan	1965	✔
19	Trouble (Pt. 1)	Stanley Turrentine	1963
20	Blue Bossa	Joe Henderson	1963
21	Alligator Boogaloo	Lou Donaldson	1967	✔

Imagine my surprise when I discovered this disc also contains some multimedia files. It wasn't labelled as an "Enhanced CD" or "CD-Extra," but I noticed some installation instructions at the end of the liner note booklet. And imagine my further surprise when it all still worked more than a quarter century after release!

The "competition" tab gave UK hepcats a chance to win the entire Blue Series (35 CDs?!?!!) by answering a question:

If they're referencing the song Holy Thursday by David Axelrod, the correct answer would be "no band sampled that track for a song entitled Groove Is In The Heart," right? Or my ear could be missing something. Or maybe they were thinking of of the song Stay in Bed, Forget the Rest by Deee-Lite? Sadly, the deadline for entry was September 30, 1998, so the matter is moot. But that contest doesn't have much to do with the music on today's compilation CD, so never mind. As you were.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

Blue Bacharach (1999)	Capitol Rare (1999)
Blue Brazil (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)
Jump Blue (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Blue Beat (1991)	Blue Bossa (1991)
Blue Boogie (1999)	Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Series Sampler (2001)	Midnight Blue (1999)
Blue Valentines (1999)	Blue Movies (1999)
So Blue So Funky (1991)	Blue 'N' Groovy Vol 2 (1999)
So Blue So Funky Vol 2 (1994)	California Cool (1993)
Blue Break Beats (1992)	Blue 'N' Soul (2001)
Blue Break Beats Vol 3 (1996)	Blue '70s (2000)
Blue York Blue York (1996)

Dave Stryker - Eight Track (2014)

Stryker, a jazz guitarist who played with organist Jack MacDuff then Stanley Turrentine in the '80s and '90s, wanted to put out an album of covers of '60s and '70s tunes he heard on the 8 track tapes of his youth. Stryker's thoughts from the liner notes:

Tasty, retro, jazz-funk. If you like jazz that goes down easy and are of a certain age, I believe you'll like at least a few of these covers. It all grooves and I dig the way the group often doubles the guitar with the vibes. Not to mention the tracks are perfectly sequenced. There are other "Eight Track" albums available, but apparently all those CDs sold out so the albums are currently available for purchase only as digital files. However, the CDs are sometimes available on the secondary market, which is where I found this one. (And where I hope to find the other 8 Track CDs)

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks, including the artist that originally made them famous, year of release, and peak on the pop chart:

1. I'll Be Around (The Spinners, 1972, #3)
   Transforms into a swing tune complete with walking bass. Lots of trading licks, so there's no extended soloing. Nevertheless, a great album opener.
2. Pusherman/Superfly (Curtis Mayfield, 1972, #8)
   A fairly straight cover that loses some if its grit in this smoother setting, but I like the way Stryker's solo builds and drummer McClenty Hunter comes up with some fun bits to keep things interesting.
3. Wichita Lineman (Glen Campbell, 1968, #3)
   Probably my favorite Jimmy Webb tune, Stryker and crew turn this into a Metheny-esque jazz waltz (maybe 6/8 instead of 3/4?). Great cover - it's not a competition, but my favorite solo on this track comes from organist Jared Gold.
4. Aquarius (The Fifth Dimension, 1969, #1)
   This tune gets a fast-paced straightahead groove and Hunter again brings the goods. Lots of soloing and chord substitutions in a Coltrane hard bop vein. If this one wears out me as a listener, I can only imagine how the players feel afterwards.
5. Never My Love (The Association, 1967, #2)
   After a tasty intro from Gold, this beautiful ballad gets the light touch it deserves.
6. Superwoman (Stevie Wonder, 1972, #33)
   The group plays this cover staright and, to be honest, why mess with anything that has emerged from the mind of Stevie Wonder? Reminds me jazz-pop covers from George Benson and that's a good thing.
7. Never Can Say Goodbye (The Jackson 5, 1971, #2)
   Another swinger with its fair share of chord substitutions and just a touch of Latin groove in the verse. Contains the best vibes solo on the album.
8. Make It With You (Bread, 1970, #1)
   About what you'd expect: a laid-back arrangement over lots of organ pads from Gold and subtle cymbal work from Hunter. The quartet takes their time with this one and it pays off.
9. Money (Pink Floyd, 1973, #13)
   My least favorite track on the Dark Side album becomes my least favorite track on this album. They make it swing while keeping it in 7, so I'll give them credit for that.
10. That's The Way Of The World (Earth, Wind & Fire, 1975, #12)
    One of those album closers that leaves you wanting more. Dadgum this take is smooth.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Eight Track Christmas (2019)

Various Artists - Blue 'N' Groovy, Volume 2: Mostly Modal (1999)

From the CD liner notes: "We return bringing with us some of the most fingerpoppin', dancefloor friendly, soul-imbued jazz ever committed to vinyl."

From Allmusic: "Blue Note Records hit its creative peak in the late '60s, a time when jazz was being flooded with influences from across the musical spectrum and around the world. Blue 'n Groovy 2 captured the crackling energy of this time, and shows the funk, soul, and Latin infused grooves of artists like the Jazz Messangers [sic], McCoy Tyner, Lee Morgan, and Art Pepper."

From the Dusty Groove website: "Another one of those great Blue Note comps put together by UK djs, and a lot more sophisticated (and just plain better!) than any of the comps they put out in the U.S. The focus here is on great modal jazzy groovers, and not organ or guitar breakbeat cuts. The tracks are long, with great solos"

From The CD Project: What a fantastic sampler! There's plenty of fun, grooving modal blues to be found here in the guise of boogaloo, r&b, Latin, bop and any and all variations/fusions.

Part of Blue Note's fantastic "Blue Series" compilations from the '90s:

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

1. The Flip - Hank Mobley
   From the 1970 album, the Flip
2. And Satisfy - Stanley Turrentine
   From the 1966 album, Rough 'N' Tumble
3. Dixie Lee - Donald Byrd
   From the 1967 album, Mustang
4. Greasy - Jackie McLean
   From the 1959 album, New Soil
5. A Little Busy - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
   Taken from the 1967 album, The Witch Doctor
6. Mambo De La Pinta - Art Pepper
   Taken from the 1957 album, The Return Of Art Pepper
7. Mamacita - Blue Mitchell
   Recorded 1963; taken from the 1980 album, Step Lightly
8. Señorita Eula - Don Wilkerson
   Taken from the 1963 album, Elder Don
9. Afreaka - Lee Morgan
   Taken from the 1970 album, The Sixth Sense
10. Wahoo! - Duke Pearson
    Taken from the 1965 album, Wahoo!
11. Message From The Nile - McCoy Tyner
    Taken from the 1973 album, Extensions

My favorites today are The Flip, Greasy, A Little Busy (that Lee Morgan solo!), Afreaka, and Wahoo! (in 5).

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

Blue Bacharach (1999)	Capitol Rare (1999)
Blue Brazil (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Break Beats (1992)	Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Blue Beat (1991)	Blue Bossa (1991)
Blue Boogie (1999)	Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Series Sampler (2001)	Midnight Blue (1999)
So Blue So Funky (1994)

Various Artists - Midnight Blue: The (Be)Witching Hour (1999)

As suggested by this compilation's title, this thing is slow but intense - perfect for late night listening. Lots of romantic ballads and familiar standards with a variety of lead instruments, including saxophone, trumpet, guitar, and voice. Plus, that's a heckuva line-up they selected.

Part of Blue Note's fantastic "Blue Series" compilations from the '90s:

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

1. Ill Wind - Ike Quebec
   Previously unreleased, ca. 1960
2. Please Send Me Someone to Love - Jimmy Smith
   From the 1963 album, Rockin' The Boat
3. Lover Man - Lawrence Marable Quartet feat. James Clay
   From the 1956 album, Tenorman
4. The Nearness Of You - Johnny Hartman
   Recorded 1972; taken from the posthumous 1995 compilation, For Trane
5. Smoke Gets In your Eyes - Bud Shank With The Len Mercer Strings
   Taken from the 1958 album, I'll Take Romance
6. Autumn Leaves - Coleman Hawkins
   Taken from the 1957 album, The Gilded Hawk
7. Fly Me to The Moon - Nat King Cole & George Shearing
   Taken from the 1962 album, Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays
8. After The Rain - Duke Pearson
   Taken from the 1967 album, Sweet Honey Bee
9. Sweet & Lovely - Bill Perkins & Richie Kamuca
   Taken from the 1957 album, Just Friends
10. You Don't Know What Love Is - Cassandra Wilson
    Taken from the 1993 album, Blue Light 'Til Dawn
11. Nancy (With The Laughing Face) - Grant Green
    Recorded 1962; taken from the 1997 compilation, The Complete Quartets With Sonny Clark
12. (It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along - Dexter Gordon
    Taken from the 1962 album, A Swingin' Affair
13. Willow Weep For Me - Stanley Turrentine With The Three Sounds
    Taken from the 1961 album, Blue Hour
14. I Can't Get Started - Lester Young With Nat King Cole
    Recorded 1942; taken from the 1995 compilation The Complete Aladdin Recordings

Today, my favorites are The Nearness Of You, Nancy (With The Laughing Face), and Willow Weep For Me.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Let's keep this post "family-friendly," shall we?

Previously revisited for the blog:

Blue Bacharach (1999)	Capitol Rare (1999)
Blue Brazil (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Break Beats (1992)	Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Blue Beat (1991)	Blue Bossa (1991)
Blue Boogie (1999)	Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Series Sampler (2001)

Jimmy Smith - Midnight Special (1961)

Fantastic, bluesy, soulful cuts from The Incredible Jimmy Smith and a top-flight band. The album was recorded at the same 1960 session that produced Back at the Chicken Shack on Monday, April 25, 1960. Highly enjoyable - definitely one of Smith's better releases.

Original liner notes by Del Shields

Smith - organ
Kenny Burrell - guitar
Stanley Turrentine - tenor saxophone
Donald Bailey - drums

Reviews/ratings:

• CashBox: "proof positive of Smith's stature as a significant jazz artist."
• DownBeat (★★★): "a relaxed, informal studio session that makes few demands on the listener."
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★½

Midnight Special, Part 1 peaked at #69 pop, #13 R&B in 1962

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #28

Tracks: You can't go wrong with any of the five here. Makes a great pairing with the aforementioned Chicken Shack album, for obvious reasons.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Best of Jimmy Smith: The Blue Note Years (1988)
Keep On Comin' (1983)
Back At The Chicken Shack (1963)
Houseparty (1958)
The Sermon! (1958)

Stanley Turrentine - T Time (1995)

I recently rescued this CD from the $1 clearance bin. It's an enjoyable effort from the veteran saxophonist in which he mostly re-records some tunes from earlier releases, including a take on his signature tune, Sugar, re-titled A Little Sweetness. My only complaint concerns the choice of using synth pads instead of bringing in a real string section, but that's a minor quibble.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

1. Don't Mess With Mr. T (original Turrentine version on the 1973 album, Don't Mess With Mr. T)
2. A Little Sweetness (1970 album, Sugar)
3. I Haven't Got Anything Better To Do (1971 album, Salt Song)
4. Impressions (1970 album, Sugar)
5. Terrible T. (1989 album, La Place)
6. The Island (cover of an Ivan Lins tune)
7. Touching (1989 album, La Place)
8. Side Steppin' (original composed by guitarist Dave Stryker)

The previous owner of this disc had indicated their favorite tracks by writing on the disc itself in red pen: "1, 2, 7, 8" and while I prefer track 5 to track 8, I'm pretty much in agreement with that opinion (except the writing on the disc. Don't do that, folks.). However, there's nothing to skip here - while the album concept/theme of re-recordings gets a bit redundant, the performances here are first-rate and everything swings.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Best of Stanley Turrentine (1990)

Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue (1963)

First off, that is a fantastic album cover. Masterfully designed - like most Blue Note covers of the '60s - by Reid Miles.

This might be called "bluesy jazz" or it might be called "jazzy blues" or it might be both. Regardless, Midnight Blue is a great, relaxing album whether it is midnight or midday. True to the genre but very accessible. Possibly a great starting point for your personal Blue Note discovery adventure?

Original liner notes by Leonard Feather.

Burrell - guitar
Stanley Turrentine - tenor saxophone
Major Holley, Jr. - bass
Bill English - drums
Ray Barretto - conga

I've found this album to be a great pairing with Grant Green's Idle Moments album, also recorded for Blue Note in 1963.

Reviews/ratings:

• CashBox: "A standout showing"
• Billboard: "This is a vibrant set"
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★★
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★★½

NPR included the album in its "Basic Jazz Library" where it is described as "the perfect 'late night, neon light flashing outside of the window, cigarette smoke swirling up into nothing' record." In 1987, this album was selected by Blue Note (Europe) as one of the 25 Best Albums on the label.

Update: In 2024, uDiscover Music ranked this album at #16 on its list of The 50 Greatest Blue Note Albums.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: It's easy to see why they chose to release Chitlins Con Carne as the single since it's a slinky blues number on which both Burrell and Turrentine shine. Mule is a slow-burning blues followed by a brief, melodic interlude titled Soul Lament. The title track has a gentle swing to it and that's as hard as the groove gets on this record. Wavy Gravy is lilting waltz with an odd fade-out. A tasty cover of the 1929 standard Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You, might feature Burrell's best work on the whole dang album. The album ends with Saturday Night Blues, which is as advertised by the title - sounds like any jazz club on a Saturday where the band leader just calls out a key ("blues in F") and off they go. Turrentine certainly makes the most of his opportunities.

This 1999 Rudy Van Gelder Edition concludes with two bonus tracks which were recorded on the same day as the others - Tuesday, January 8, 1963. The first, Kenny's Sound, has a quick tempo and isn't blues-based, so it might seem out of place on the album proper. Great cut, though. The other, K Twist, would have fit nicely so I can't figure why it was excluded.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None. 

Blog post #1750

Jimmy Smith - Back At The Chicken Shack (1963)

You know its good when someone gives you the honorific "The Incredible" on the album cover. With the help of the invention of the drawbar B-3 organ and people like Smith, the organ moved from the church to club. Smith was prolific, releasing over 100 albums (he recorded around forty sessions just for Blue Note, 1956-63) and also found occasional success on the single charts - the title track from this release peaked at #63 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963.

And what a supporting cast: Stanley Turrentine, Kenny Burrell, and Donald Bailey. Turrentine is featured throughout and, from what I've read, this is the album that really put him on the map. Plus, Burrell's tone is unparalleled.

Original liner notes by Ira Gitler.

Featured in an early edition of the book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: "arguably Smith's greatest album, relentlessly grooving, harmonically sophisticated, and earthy as the Delta mud."

Other reviews/ratings:

• Billboard: "another powerhouse album from Smith"
• CashBox: "unleashes his potent organ talents full-blast"
• DownBeat: ★★★
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★ 

In 1987, this album was selected by Blue Note (Europe) as one of the 25 Best Albums on the label.

Update: In 2024, uDiscover Music ranked this album at #27 on its list of The 50 Greatest Blue Note Albums.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #14

Tracks: 4 tracks, lots of R&B (heavy on the B) with similar swingin' grooves throughout. But if you like that sorta thing, then it's all good. This 2007 Rudy Van Gelder Edition contains one bonus track, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, and while it isn't blues, it's a great take on a standard.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Best of Jimmy Smith: The Blue Note Years (1988)
Houseparty (1958)
The Sermon! (1958)

The Best of Stanley Turrentine (1990)

Saxophonist Stanley Turrentine (1934-2000) recorded for Creed Taylor's CTI label from 1970 - 1973. This "best of" disc covers tunes recorded with that period. Includes his signature tune, Sugar, and two previously unreleased tracks. Just check out the murderers' row of musicians on these recordings (below).

It's no coincidence that Columbia would list Benson and Burrell on the promo sticker because their solos are the ones that stop me in my tracks on each cut. Other standouts for me include Milt Jackson and the incomparable Richard Tee.

That badass Alen MacWeeney cover photo originally appeared on the cover of a 1974 CTI anthology titled The Baddest Stanley Turrentine.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: with 76 minutes of music, you certainly get your money's worth on this compilation (especially when you can find a used copy for a couple of bucks)

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None. Turrentine appears on many compilation CDs in my collection, but, despite having many of his releases on vinyl, this is the first Turrentine CD I've ever owned.

Various Artists ‎– Blue Beat: Blue Note Plays The Music Of Lennon And McCartney (1991)

A week ago, I wrote on this blog I would keep hunting titles in the The Blue Series. So after posting, I headed to eBay (Hi, my name is Mark and I'm an eBay addict) where this compilation of Beatles covers caught my eye, I ordered it, USPS did its thing, and here we are. I know what you're thinking: "Mark, haven't you already covered this album 8 years ago under the title Blue Note Plays The Beatles?" First, let me commend you on your outstanding memory, secondly, while the two albums contain a few common tracks, they are clearly different releases.

This compilation was released in the UK under the name "Love Me Blue" which is a clear winner of a title.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

• Can't Buy Me Love - Stanley Turrentine (recorded 1964, released later on the 1980 album Mr. Natural)
  This song actually works as a swing cover. Lee Morgan and McCoy Tyner steal the show. ✔
• Eleanor Rigby - Stanley Jordan (released on the 1985 album Magic Touch)
  While Jordan's technical prowess can't be disputed, this noodling cover loses all the intensity of the original and, thus, misses the entire point of the tune. ✘
• I Want to Hold Your Hand - Grant Green (released on the 1966 album of the same name)
  The only thing that keeps this from being a cheesy lounge arrangement is the outstanding musicianship. Green's tone is amazing and Larry Young's work on the drawbar organ is a delight. ✔
• Yesterday - Lee Morgan (released on the 1967 album Delightfulee)
  The unusual instrumentation and bossa beat don't really suit this song. The ending is criminal. ✘
• From Me to You - Bobby McFerrin (released on the 1986 album Spontaneous Inventions)
  Just McFerrin singing a capella in concert. That's my preferred McFerrin sound. Don't understand the fade out on a concert recording, though. ✔
• Hey Jude - Stanley Turrentine (released on the 1968 album Always Something There)
  Arranger Thad Jones simply to added a little funk groove plus French horns and strings to this and said combination shouldn't work, but it somehow does. The only downside is that they never get to the "naaaaah-nah-nah-nahnahnah-nah" coda. ✔
• In My Life - Gil Goldstein (released on the 1989 album City Of Dreams)
  Simply gorgeous. Worth the price of the disc. ✔
• Get Back - The Three Sounds (recorded 1970, previously unissued)
  I initially didn't care for this one, but by a minute into the thing, I was grooving along. ✔
• Lonnie Smith - Eleanor Rigby (released on the 1969 album Turning Point)
  see notes on the Stanley Jordan cover above. This one doesn't trill me. ✘
• Hey Jude - The Jazz Crusaders (released on the 1969 album Powerhouse)
  Joe Sample tries his best to save this one, but doesn't quite make it. Shame. ✘

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Blue Bacharach: A Cooler Shaker (1999)
Blue Brazil: Blue Note in a Latin Groove (1999)
Capitol Rare: Funky Notes From The West Coast (1999)
Capitol Rare: Funky Notes From The West Coast, Vol. 2 (1999)
Capitol Rare: Funky Notes From The West Coast, Vol. 3 (1999)
Blue Bossa: Cool Cuts from the Tropics (1991)
Blue Bossa, Vol. 2: Cool Cuts from the Tropics (1999)
Blue Break Beats (1992)