Hustlin'

Read About This Recording

Throughout his career, tenor-saxophonist Stanley Turrentine was featured in a wide variety of settings, but he always sounded like himself. Turrentine had an immediately distinctive tone that could be recognized in two notes. A soulful player who could also sound comfortable with all-star hard bop groups, Turrentine was a popular attraction for 40 years.

Born in Pittsburgh in 1934, Turrentine gained early experience playing with blues and R&B bands including those of Lowell Fulson and Earl Bostic. He first gained attention in the jazz world when he and his brother, trumpeter Tommy Turrentine, became members of the 1959-60 Max Roach Quintet. After making his recording debut as a leader and signing with Blue Note (his main label throughout the 1960s), Turrentine married organist Shirley Scott and they frequently played together in their own quartet. In the 1970s he had success on the CTI label (having a hit with Sugar), spent a few years later in the decade making commercial records, and then spent the two decades before his 2000 death mostly playing soul jazz.

Hustlin' features Turrentine with Shirley Scott, guitarist Kenny Burrell, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Otis Finch in 1964 on two basic originals, two obscurities, Love Letters and Goin' Home. The tenor caresses some of the stronger melodies, interacts joyfully with Scott and is heard throughout improvising melodically and with his own brand of soul.

-Scott Yanow

Contents

Remastered!

Trouble (No. 2); Love Letters; The Hustler; Ladyfingers; Something Happens to Me; Goin' Home.

Stanley Turrentine, Tenor Sax; Shirley Scott, Organ; Kenny Burrell, Guitar; Bob Cranshaw, Bass; Otis Finch, Drums.