Requisites

Cherry ~ Stanley Turrentine With Milt Jackson | By Eddie Carter

Two of my favorite musicians are the subject of this morning’s discussion, Stanley Turrentine With Milt Jackson. Cherry (CTI Records CTI 6017) hit the stores in 1972 and was Turrentine’s fourth album on CTI. On this date, the tenor saxophonist’s leading an all-star sextet. Milt Jackson on vibes, Bob James on piano (track: A2), electric piano (tracks: A1, A3, B1 to B3), Cornell Dupree on guitar, Ron Carter on bass, and Bill Cobham on drums. My copy used in this report is the original US Stereo release.

Side One starts with the rhythm section’s spirited introduction to Speedball by Lee Morgan. The ensemble’s theme leads off this happy swinger, then Stanley cruises into the opening solo. Milt gets into a bluesy groove next, and Bill exchanges the finale with Stanley, Milt, and Bob ahead of the climax.

I Remember You by Johnny Mercer and Victor Schertzinger is a beautiful 1941 ballad that was first heard in the film, The Fleet’s In, a year later. Milt and the rhythm section introduce the song discreetly, segueing into a gentle opening chorus. Jackson is up first with a tender reading, then Turrentine gives an elegant presentation leading to a serene ending. The Revs by Milt Jackson swings at a leisurely tempo with the sextet in unison during the melody. Stanley steers a nice course for everyone with a carefree, bouncy first solo. Milt follows with melodic lines that emerge effortlessly from his vibes. Bob and Cornell close out the statements with two lightly swinging readings preceding the sextet taking the song out.

Side Two starts with Sister Sanctified by Weldon Irvine Jr who also arranged this tune. The sextet starts this swinging jazz service with a funky groove on the melody that’s sure to get the listener snapping their fingers and tapping their toes. Turrentine sets the tone on the opening statement with a soulful sermon. Jackson preaches the second solo rocking all the way. Dupree hits the sweet spot on the next reading and Cobham makes a brief comment leading to the theme’s reprise and fade-out. Cherry by Ray Gilbert and Don Redman begins with the vibist setting down a subtle theme at a slow tempo. Stanley opens with a wonderful expression of incredible beauty, then Milt responds with a delicately pretty performance moving towards a gorgeous finale.

Weldon Irvine Jr. also composed and arranged the album’s closer, Introspective. This is a mid tempo jaunt of pure pleasure leading off with Turrentine’s cheerful theme and lighthearted opening solo. Jackson comes in next for a delightful interpretation. James follows with a fine reading and Cobham swings the door shut with his brushwork. Cherry was produced by Creed Taylor and the man behind the dials was Rudy Van Gelder. This is a great recording and an excellent vinyl pressing for a 1970s album with a splendid soundstage. The instruments come through your speakers vividly and surround your sweet spot with music that’s sure to make you smile. Both Stanley Turrentine and Milt Jackson are a joy to hear together with a wonderful supporting cast. If you’re a fan of either musician, I recommend and invite you to check out Cherry on your next vinyl hunt. It’s a great album that still stands up fifty years later and your ears will thank you for adding it to your library!

~ I Remember You – Source: JazzStandards.com © 2022 by Edward Thomas Carter

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

It is up to you to protect yourself, your family, your friends against the Covid variants.

This week’s selection is taking us Up the Street, ‘Round the Corner, Down the Block to listen to a 1974 album by guitarist Kenny Burrell. He recorded tracks 2 & 4 in January 1974 at the Village Recorders in Los Angeles, California and tracks 1, 3, 5 & 6 at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California in February. It was released later that same year on the Fantasy Records label.

There were two recording supervisors: Orrin Keepnews on tracks 2, 4, and Sam Russell on tracks 1, 3, 5, 6. The recording engineer was Bob Brown on tracks 2, 4, and Eddie Harris on tracks 1, 3, 5, 6. The remix engineer duties were also performed by Eddie Harris. The lacquer cut was by David Turner. The photography and design was done by Tony Lane,

Track List | 37:44 All compositions by Kenny Burrell except as indicated

1. Up the Street, ‘Round the Corner, Down the Block (Onaje Allan Gumbs) ~ 7:18
2. Afro Blue (Mongo Santamaría) ~ 5:40
3. Sausalito Nights ~ 7:15
4. Juice (Gumbs) ~ 5:40
5. A Little Walking Music ~ 3:18
6. Soulero (Richard Evans) ~ 9:13

• Kenny Burrell ~ guitar, whistling (track 5)
• Jerome Richardson ~ flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
• Richard Wyands ~ piano, electric piano
• Andy Simpkins ~ bass
• Lenny McBrowne ~ drums
• Mayuto Correa ~ percussion

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Adam Shulman was born on August 1, 1979 in San Francisco, California. Taking what he learned studying piano during his formative years, he headed to Santa Cruz he matriculated through the University of California with a degree in classical performance. While at UCSC he studied jazz piano with Smith Dobson.

Returning home he became a staple on the city’s jazz scene, leaning towards and playing in the bop genre. Adam has been seen working with countless bay area musicians and vocalists such as Marcus Shelby, Anton Schwartz, Ed Reed and Kellye Gray among many others. Beyond the locals he has played and/or recorded with Stefon Harrism Willie Jones III, Dayna Stephens, Mark Murphy, Alan Harris, Luciana Souza, Sean Jones, Grant Stewart and John Clayton to name a few.

A consummate sideman, Adam is a composer and arranger. He has done much of the arranging for the jazz and cabaret singer Paula West and has released four albums of original music as a leader and continues to perform, arrange and compose.

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Closing out the final week of the month is The Swing Machine. It’s another offering from the continent that this Jazz Voyager has discovered not in his collection but one that requires sharing.The title really says it all so aptly named by tenor saxophonist Gérard Badini in preparation for a good time!

The album was recorded May 30, 1975 at the Hoche Studio in Paris, France and was produced by Jacques Lubin. The recording engineer was Gerhard Lehner, the liner notes were written by Alexandre Rado, and the photography by Christian Rose.

1. It Don’t Mean A Thing (Duke Ellington, Irving Mills) ~
2. Let’s Do It (Cole Porter) ~
3. Sam Woodyard Is Back In Town (Gérard Badini) ~
4. Cute (Neal Hefti)
5. Asphodèle (Raymon Fol) ~
6. Stomp, Lok And Listen ( Duke Ellington) ~

• Michel Gaudry ~ Double Bass
• Drums – Sam Woodyard ~ Drums
• Raymond Fol ~ Piano, Celesta
• Gérard Badini ~ Tenor Saxophone

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Julia Feldman was born on June 22, 1979 in Samara, Soviet Union to Israeli parents and into a family with a large musical background; her father wa ajeweler who played jazz piano, and a grandfather who was an accomplished conductor and a leader of the city philharmonic orchestra. Classically trained by studying the piano from the age of 5 until the family’s immigration to Israel in 1990 where she continued her piano studies along with jazz improvisation at the High School Of Arts in Jerusalem.

Becoming interested in jazz singing in the last year of her high school studies Feldman began studying voice technique and jazz improvisation along with intensive studies of jazz with the saxophonist Arnie Lawrence at the International Music Center of Jerusalem. While there she studied and performed with known American jazz musicians, such as Evelyn Blakey, Larry Goldings, Armen Donelian, Bob Meyer, Sheila Jordan, Judi Silvano and composer Allen Gershwin, performing the latter’s Walk In The Wilderness.

The late Nineties had her continuing her education and performing with a host of musicians. She has put together her self-titled ensemble and quartet with the former releasing a tribute album in 2006 Words Are Worlds inspired and featuring many standards by Billie Holiday. Other projects she has worked on as a vocalist have delved her into progressive rock Musicca Ficta,  vocalist in Radical Shlomo, as pianist, vocalist, co-composer and co-lyricist in Ayulyul and collaboration with ethno-core Jerusalem band Shoom.

Vocalist, composer and educator Julia Feldman, whose singing combines elements of multiple jazz genres, free improvisation and modern classical music, continues to explore, perform and record.

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