Stanley Turrentine & the Three Sounds - Complete Blue Hour Sessions

The Three Sounds were pianist Gene Harris, bassist Andy Simpkins, and drummer Bill Dowdy, and they swung in-the-pocket. Although they were not as acclaimed as the Modern Jazz Quartet, the Ramsey Lewis Trio, and other marquee combos, their streamlined sound bridged Count Basie and bebop into a modern yet grooving sensibility. This two-CD set features the trio's entire 1960 Blue Hour sessions with saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. With Turrentine's robust, storytelling tenor sound, these dates are no-nonsense straight-ahead numbers and ballads, including "Willow Weep for Me," Andy Razaf's "Gee Baby, Ain't I Been Good to You," and Oscar Pettiford's "Blues in the Closet." Harris's lyrical ivory ticklings, Dowdy's zesty drum work, and Simpkins's deep and delicious bass lines get Turrentine's driving tenor as a topping and show that this ensemble was the real deal. --Eugene Holley Jr. Amazon.com

Real feel good jazz, without compromises

What came first the chicken or the egg? The Three Sounds or Stanley Turrentine? It should have always been "The Four Sounds". They compliment each other magnificently, like a pair of worn-slippers. Gene and Stanley take the spotlight, but the rhythm grooves hard and swings too. This is a must-have for any serious listener. October 14, 2008

Great Jazz Blues

I hate to be the first non-five star review here (and would prefer to just write descriptive comments without the value judgements of star ratings). This is a very enjoyable set, with about 95 minutes of very soulful, bluesy playing over the two cds. Unlike a lot of blues saxophone, one doesn't really get the feel that Turrentine is out in front of the band intensely purging his emotions. Instead he plays somewhat softly, and in a way what that is more integrated with the rest of the band. This tendency to blend in with the other players rather than standing out in front of them is a real hallmark of Turrentine's style. As a result, the quality of his playing often depends on the quality of the musicians he is playing with. In Midnight Blue, this produces some amazing playing from Turrentine, as Kenny Burrell is absolutely on fire playing alongside him. Here, the "three sounds" (Gene Harris on piano, Andrew Simpkins on bass, and Bill Dowdy on drums) play some great blues, but there isn't a great deal of variation in the playing. Most of the tunes are standards that have been reworked as blues tunes. The two tunes by Harris--"Blue Riff," and "Blue Hour"--are my favorites because his playing seems the most inspired, but they stick largely within the same basic range of blues figures as the other tunes. Overall, this is a highly enjoyable set of bluesy jazz that contains frequent moments of really inspired playing. It is highly recommended to fans of Midnight Blue or other more introspective blues saxophone. However, it you're looking for someone really blowing his heart out (e.g. Oliver Nelson's Screaming the Blues) or simply for a broader range of playing, you may want to look elsewhere. May 3, 2008

This is as blue as jazz gets.

This is in my top 10 favorite jazz albums. Turrentine's tone has got the perfect soulful sound for this recording. I believe that no other sax player could have done it better. This CD is perfect for just relaxin, smoking a cigar (or other types of smoking), just chilling out and drinking a beer after a long day at work, background music for a hip art/record store, or even making some sweet love. enjoy it for many many years to come. Also, the extra disc is great too, but not as mellow as the first one, its more upbeat and moving, but it's still awesome. May 18, 2007

Turrentine with the the Gene Harris Trio - pure jazz magic..

Gene Harris is one of the best piano players out there, and this pairing with Mr. T is a bona-fide 5 Star classic. Having not heard it for a long time due to a totally worn out LP, I can't remember it ever sounding better; on top of which, now, we get the entire session. More Soul, more swinging, grooving Tenor genius, and a whole lot more fun and enjoyment. Stan is one of the few players on his instrument that can blow the funkiest blues on one track, and then turn around and astound you with his technical (yet always groovy) prowess on the very next cut. Stanley Turrentine was SPECIAL, and he is missed - terribly so. September 10, 2003

Sloooow burn

A low, slow, burn of a set with a late night smokin' feel unlike anything else. Such a naked noir soundtrack you'll want to light up a cigarette when it's done. March 22, 2003

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