Sugar

This is Stanley's best. It rocks. One of my favorite CDs. A must have for the Jazz or Fusion collector.

IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT ALL OF THESE GREAT OLD CTI RECORDS WERE RE-RELEASED ON CD. I HAD SO MANY OF THESE GREAT WAX RECORDINGS WHEN THEY CAME OUT IN THE 70'S. THIS IS A CLASSIC ONE BY STANLEY TURRENTINE. BUT THAT IS MISLEADING. THE GREAT THING ABOUT ALL OF THESE OLD CTI RECORDS WERE THAT THEY FEATURED A LOT OF THE GREAT MUSICIANS IN THEIR STABLE. IF A RECORD WAS CREDITED TO, SAY, STANLEY TURRENTINE, YOU COULD BE ASSURED THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF GREAT SOLOS ON THE DISC BY RON CARTER, GEORGE BENSON, FREDDIE HUBBARD (who are all fetured here on this CD), AND OTHERS (including Deodato, Hubert Laws, Steve Gadd, Randy Weston, Joe Beck, Hank Crawford, Eric Gale, etc.). THE SAME WAS TRUE FOR ALBUMS RELEASED BY THOSE ARTISTS. WHO THE ALBUM WAS CREDITED TO WAS A MISNOMER. I READ ONE OF THE OTHER REVIEWERS STATE THAT THIS MUSIC WAS A PRECURSER TO WHAT IS NOW CALLED SMOOTH JAZZ, BUT THAT IS WRONG, SINCE THIS STUFF IS SOOOOO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT CRAPPPPPPPPPP.

Stanley Turrentine was one of the most prolific jazz artists of our time but received very little attention to his works. If he were still with us, he would be playing the finest halls across America. On this cd he teams up with his peers in none other than Freddie Hubbard, George Benson, Lonnie Liston Smith Jr., Ron Carter, and other masterful musicians. Thanks to the wonderful production from Creed Taylor who had the foresight to bring all of these talents together, we have what is an example of brilliant jazz.

There are only four songs on this cd. The first is the title song which is over 10 minutes long. The second song "Sunshine Alley" is also over 10 minutes long. The third song "Impressions" was the last song on the original LP and is over 14 minutes. The "piece de resistance" on this cd is the bonus cut: a live version of "Sugar" that cooks and adds Hubert Laws on the flute. It is also over 14 minutes.

I'm not certain how ANYONE could compare this music to smooth jazz. These musicians know jazz through and through and prove it on this album! While recorded under Stanley Turrentine's name, there are many solo spots from the other artists throughout each number. It is akin to sitting in a jazz club and indulging in the most delicious treat. This is a jazz buffet for the ears!

CTI was one of the most prolific jazz labels of the early 1970s. Many of their records are fantastic...Red Clay- Freddie Hubbard is fantastic. But all too many of their records hint at what would later become smooth jazz. This is one of those dates, while the music is very good, the tone of the album is missing a rawness.

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 defiantely 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 similiar 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; accessiblity 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.