Black History Month: Stanley Turrentine

Stanley Turrentine, the Pittsburgh-born tenor saxophonist known for a big soulful sound, lyrical delivery and erudite harmonic sense, was one of the few jazz instrumentalists to have crossover success as a popular artist.

Known to play his black-lacquered Selmer tenor saxophone while his R&B star was in the ascendant, Turrentine’s sartorial presentation was always elegant while being very much of the times. He’s seen above in that quintessential Ivy staple the pink buttondown, complete with proper old-school collar roll, showing himself at once traditional and current, relaxed and proper.”

Turrentine’s recordings span from leader on the Blue Note imprint to sessions as a sideman with organist and one-time wife, Shirley Scott. Those new to Stanley Turrentine would do well to start with the recordings “Live at Minton’s” and “Joyride,” but with whatever you choose it’s hard to go wrong with Mr. T.

Below he can be heard doing the wistful “Willow Weep For Me.” — JASON MARSHALL

21 Comments on "Black History Month: Stanley Turrentine"

  1. Interesting how some postings generate almost no comments.

  2. In order to spark comments, the post generally has to have something for people to take issue with.

    The next one is a Brooks Brothers preview, so there should be a marked uptick in reader interaction.

  3. Ivy Trad,

    Not everyone likes jazz. On top of that, jazz musicians adopted the Ivy League look; they did not create it.

    While a post like this may be interesting, it is, at best, peripheral, and therefore generates few comments.

    Or are you insinuating something?

  4. Single Needle | February 16, 2012 at 1:39 pm |

    @Henry

    Unbelievably, I was with you,….until that last sentence.

  5. CC,

    De gustibus non disputandum est.

    Single Needle,

    You never know with this crowd.

  6. Kensington High | February 17, 2012 at 12:24 am |

    @Henry

    What might Ivy Trad be insinuating?

  7. Any number of things. Let’s let him respond, if he cares to. If not, I leave it to the reader to come to his own conclusions.

  8. Dickey Greenleaf | February 25, 2012 at 10:15 am |

    Come on guy’s, I thought that all Afficionado’s liked Jazz, you got to be kidding me, you mean to tell me none of you guy’s ever heard of Stanley Turrentine, or Shirley Scott, or even Eddie Lockjaw Davis, this is absurd. I thought that great clothing and music went hand and hand, guess not. Guy’s you got to start listening to Jazz, it’s classy, classic, and tasteful music.

  9. @Dickey Greenleaf

    What possible connection could there be between the clothing style favored by the New England elite and noise?

  10. You sound like Dickie Greenleaf’s father (note: movie reference). “Jazz is just insolent noise…”

  11. Dickey Greenleaf | February 25, 2012 at 6:25 pm |

    @Christian, I know, right?, that guy’s really into it.

  12. Never heard of Turrentine. Love it.

  13. That Jazz, it’s all just a bunch of clicks and whistles.

  14. Bad sax is better than no sax at all!

  15. Thanks to this post I’m sitting in my apartment and enjoying Turrentine’s “Journey Into Melody.” The perfect soundtrack to an aimless, rainy day.

  16. Roy Earnshaw | February 4, 2018 at 11:14 pm |

    “Journey into Melody” link:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DyO6pwiDpQ

  17. “… at once traditional and current, relaxed and proper.” is the quote I will take away from this.

  18. To Henry I might add that many adopted the Ivy look, especially those who didn’t create it. If I wished to be puckish I might also add that those who originated the Ivy look were in the minority of the style’s wearers, if one takes an overall view, especially over time.
    Which thought leads me onto Ivy Overalls and an entirely different topic.

  19. Henry Contestwinner | February 6, 2018 at 12:41 am |

    Yes, let’s all hop into our Ivy Overalls!

    Or would some prefer Ivy Rompers?

  20. Henry Contestwinner has to have the final word here.
    I find the shirt above just fine, fine, fine.
    Jazz? Maybe I should explore it.
    And as for all the various minorities that have worn Ivy (including Ivy’s ultimate minority: The actual Ivy League)?
    I welcome them all.
    And this comes from a Welsh career academic who doesn’t give a hoot about the small town territorialism of the internet.
    #Nice clothes are nice clothes.

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