Stanley Turrentine | Sugar

Tags

African American, Jazz, Saxophone

Stanley Turrentine’s warm and expressive timbre is one of the most recognizable voices on saxophone from back in the day. His debut “Sugar,” is accompanied by a stellar cast of A-lists players brings absolute smoke to this dynamic and soul stirring recording! The highly acclaimed “Sugar,” still ranks as one of the best from his incredible catalog of recordings! ~ The Urban Flux

Stanley Turrentine | Sugar – [CTI, 1971] – The Weekend Spin

Stanley Turrentine, Sugar

I don’t understand why this CD received anything but great reviews. Stanley Turrentine has always been one of the most accessible, yet exciting sax players since he knows that jazz and blues are often the same. I’d rather listen to Turrentine than a lot of players who play in a more intellectual way, since he understands the feel and dynamics of the supporting personnel. And what great personnel…if you know anything about jazz; Freddie Hubbard, George Benson, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham plus lesser knowns like Butch Cornell, Lonnie Smith, and Hubert Laws make for some very dynamic and expressive music. The live bonus title track is excellent and definitely has a more live, spaced out feel. Sunshine Alley is excellent soul jazz with a funky backbeat. And the Impressions is an excellent rendition of the Coltrane classic since it has the similar structure to the original but shows obvious Turrentine touches.

Everything on this album has so much soul. This is typical of classic “soul jazz” since it combines the relaxed blues feeling and directness with jazz type rhythms; accessibility but interesting and changing improvisation. This is not the cold, cerebral type of jazz that turns off people unfamiliar to jazz music, but makes people increase their appreciation for improvisatory music. —Edward M. Green [CO]

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..

Karen Briggs | Soulchestral Groove

Tags

African American, Jazz, Karen Briggs, Violin

Karen Briggs is one the baddest and most entertaining violinist on the music scene! Her latest project “Soulchestral Groove,” embodies the near perfect ingredients that brings on the heat! ~ The Urban Flux

Karen Briggs | Soulchestral Groove – [Karen Briggs, 2009]

Karen Briggs, Soulchestral Groove

This is her first, long awaited independent release since the grand exposure exposure of PBS Special, “Yanni: Live At The Acropolis“! Sum up the equation of soul plus orchestral plus groove and this CD exudes it all!

The opening Title Track, “Soulchestral Groove” delivers an obvious orchestral connection with a ‘sure-to-make-your head-bop’ groove. Arranged by neo-soul crooner/keyboardist extraordinaire, Frank McComb, this track is sure to grab the listener. Acropolis fans will not be disappointed as “Triumph” and “Scheherazade’s Groove” (Tracks 8 & 9) reminisce the fire-driven violin ‘soul-o’s’ that the violinist is most recognized for. “Little Sunflower” (Track 2) pays homage to late-great artists Freddie Hubbard and Curtis Mayfield, by elegantly joining the late trumpeter‘s “Little Sunflower” melody with the groove of Curtis Mayfield’s “I’m Your Pusherman”. Minnie Riperton’s popular classic, “Loving You” (Track 5) sounds like a natural vehicle for violin. ‘The Lady in Red’ has recorded extensively as featured soloist with a host of notable artists, including Ledisi (Lost & Found), Stanley Clarke (Vertu/Sony 550, Night School DVD), Hidden Beach’s Unwrapped Volumes 1-5, Wu Tang Clan (Reunited), Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin & Donnie McClurkin (Hopeville DVD).

..:: Source: CDBaby.com ::..

Jimi Tunnell | Trilateral Commission

Tags

Fusion, Guitar, Jazz

Jimi Tunnell | Trilateral Commission – [ Art of Life Records, 2005]

Jimi Tunnell, Trilateral Comission

Jimi Tunnell, Bendik Hofseth and Rachel Z were all members of Mike Mainieri’s Steps in the 90’s and shared stage together while Jeff Andrews was playing bass on the Yin-Yang album from 1992. So this is not surprising that the guitarist hired those musicians for his own projects and no less surprising that the music shares common aspects with Steps; Trilateral Commission is melodic fusion in the best context of the word; it is very close at times to the Joe Zawinul’s Syndicate (Zalimo in its title alone could be a link but no doubt’s left when you hear the rhythm section flowing away!), it has the obligatory ballads (where Bendik Hofseth especially shines), the classic throat yodling of Turkish percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Rachel’s always impressive keyboard flights, tight and cooking drumming by Omar Hakim and more yet.

Last and not least, it reveals the guitar playing of the leader, unfortunately too unknown, somewhere between Mike Stern and Wayne Krantz and deserving to be more known and heard; all in all a very inspiring album that should get more than one spin on your CD player! —Pierre Tassone (Denmark)

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..