Complete Blue Hour Sessions

Artist: Stanley Turrentine & the Three Sounds

Number of Discs: 2

Label: Blue Note
Availability: Available
Item #: 5281930

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Review

Stanley Turrentine & the Three Sounds were initially featured together on an album called Blue Hour, which was a very relaxed and bluesy release. The spaciousness of "I Want a Little Girl" makes the listener savor every note, while "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You" is played with an almost identical tempo and feeling. Gene Harris' "Blue Riff" picks up the pace a good bit, before "Since I Fell for You" and "Willow Weep for Me" once again slow the proceedings back to a late-night feeling. Turrentine's tenor sax is in top form, while Harris is the consummate blues pianist in his supporting role. After the first CD reissue of Blue Hour went out of print, it was expanded into a two-CD set by Blue Note, with eight new unissued or alternate takes added on the second disc. It is apparent right away that the original producer Alfred Lion was correct in withholding most of these recordings from release. As well as Turrentine plays during "Blues in the Closet," the rhythm section seems a bit stiff. Harris' piano is too much in the background on "Just in Time," while the pianist's composition "Blue Hour" doesn't seem to be fully formed as a blues vehicle. "Strike Up the Band" is the one truly up-tempo recording present on this release, but probably wasn't issued previously because it is faded prematurely and it was so different from the producer's concept for the originally conceived release. Regardless, since both Stanley Turrentine and Gene Harris passed away within a year of each other in 2000, having additional music made available featuring these two fine musicians is most welcome. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

Read About This Recording

Stanley Turrentine was always one of the most soulful of all the jazz tenor-saxophonists. Instantly recognizable within two notes, Mr. T was not only a bluesy player but a fine hard bop improviser. Born in Pittsburgh, his background in the 1950s was in R&B bands including those led by Lowell Fulson and Earl Bostic. Turrentine first came to the attention of the jazz world in 1959 when he spent a year with drummer Max Roach's group. By 1960 he was recording regularly for the Blue Note label both as a leader and as a sideman.

Turrentine sounded at home in fairly challenging settings but he was always at his best when the repertoire was blues-oriented and he was joined by a sympathetic soul jazz group. He had strong success when he was with the CTI label in the early 1970s (recording his best-known original, Sugar) and remained a very popular figure in the jazz world up until the time of his death in 2000.

Gene Harris had a similar career. A bluesy pianist influenced by Oscar Peterson but with a soulful conception of his own, Harris formed a trio with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy that by 1959 was known as The Three Sounds. They recorded extensively for Blue Note during several periods of time including 1959-62 and they were always a crowd pleaser. After the group gradually broke up, Harris was semi-retired for a period until he was coaxed out of retirement by bassist Ray Brown in 1982. He worked for a time as a member of the Ray Brown Trio and then resumed his busy solo career, sticking to the blues, ballads and soulful jazz that he loved most. Harris passed away within a year of Turrentine.

It was logical that Stanley Turrentine and The Three Sounds would record together since their styles were so complementary. Their original collaboration, Blue Hour, was made in 1960 and consisted of five selections. This two-CD set greatly expands the project and has 13 performances in all. Turrentine, Harris and The Three Sounds blend perfectly on such numbers as I Want a Little Girl, Blue Riff, Since I Fell for You and Willow Weep for Me.

The music on Blue Hour is quite accessible and should appeal even to listeners who are not into jazz. The soulfulness and melodic playing is a timeless joy.

-Scott Yanow

I Want a Little Girl; Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You; Blue Riff; Since I Fell for You; Willow Weep for Me; Blues in the Closet; Just in Time; Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You*; Where or When; Blue Hour; There is no Greater Love; Alone Together; Strike Up the Band. (*Alternate take.)

Stanley Turrentine, Tenor Sax; The Three Sounds: Gene Harris, Piano; Andy Simpkins, Bass; Bill Dowdy, Drums.

Tracks + Soundclips

Complete Blue Hour Sessions
	1. I Want a Little Girl	7:05
	2. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You	5:24
	3. Blue Riff	6:27
	4. Since I Fell for You	8:47
	5. Willow Weep for Me	9:59
	6. Blues in the Closet	5:01
	7. Just in Time	5:41
	8. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You [Alternate Take]	5:33
	9. Where or When	7:01
	10. Blue Hour	5:18
	11. There Is No Greater Love	8:27
	12. Alone Together	4:43
	13. Strike up the Band	5:26