Search - Stanley Turrentine :: Return of the Prodigal Son

More Great Rediscovered Sessions

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 06/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fans of Stanley Turrentine's Blue Note years should rejoice on news of the release of Return of the Prodigal Son. This CD is a compilation of yet more of the rediscovered Duke Pearson sessions, some of which were first remastered and reissued for the first time on 2007's magnificent A Bluish Bag. That release was well received, so now here comes Stanley Turrentine's Return of the Prodigal Son, complete with an all-star cast of sidemen.

I like the whole CD except for one stinker, but more about that musical turd later. Here's the lowdown:

1)The title cut is snappy and stirring, a real winner that sets the tone for rest of the album.

2)Pres Delight (Flying Jumbo) is a soaring flight of frenetic free-style, straight ahead jazz.

3)A relaxing, airy rendition of the Jobim composition. Turrentine has a feel for Brazilian rhythms and it shows here.

4)A jaunty, finger-snapping take on Joe Sample's New Time Shuffle. Magnificent!

5)An enjoyable, but not superior, take on the Irving Berlin standard.

6)Here's the stinker that almost spoiled the CD for me the first time through. Not only is Ain't No Mountain High Enough out of place on a jazz CD, the paint-by-numbers approach is unworthy of Turrentine. The stench lingers...

7)Turrentine redeems himself on this bluesy, smoky, soulful number. Dr. Feelgood is one of the CDs best cuts.

8)Though the prospect of hearing a jazz rendition of the soulful movie song The Look of Love may seem unappealing, on this cover Turrentine does what anyone doing a cover should do. He adds some personal flair and makes it his own.

9)Turrentine swings and rips through this one. Bravo!

10)Here is an alternate take on Aretha Franklin's Dr. Feelgood. Its hard to decide whether this slow, simmering blues is preferable to the first rendition. I'll just take them both.

If you are a fan of Stanley Turrentine in his pre-disco days, then Return of the Prodigal Son merits a place in your collection. You get nearly an hour's worth of mostly great music, an insert with notes on how this CD was assembled along with other useful album information, and the sheer pleasure of hearing Turrentine in virtuoso form."