1963 · Album
Never Let Me Go
Blue Note · Album number: Eighth album for Blue Note label
Soul and Brass at the Peak
Massive and bright, saturated in deep soul and blues—a stunner that catches Turrentine at full command.
By the time Stanley Turrentine recorded Never Let Me Go, he had already established himself as a major voice on the tenor saxophone—confident, soulful, and uninterested in the cooler fashions dominating jazz at the moment. This album represents him at the height of his powers, working in an organ-based small group where his thick, blues-drenched tone could dominate without apology. The pairing with Shirley Scott on organ is the engine of the record. Scott's playing is direct and funky, meeting Turrentine halfway between soul-jazz accessibility and serious instrumental conversation. Ray Barretto on congas and Al Harewood on membranophone push the groove into something warmer and more earthbound than straight bebop would allow, while Major Holley and Sam Jones on bass provide the low-end anchor on different tracks. AllMusic reviewer Thom Jurek awarded the album four stars, calling it "massive and bright, saturated in deep soul and blues... It's a stunner." The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings gave it 3.5 stars. This is Turrentine playing to his actual strengths rather than chasing modernist credentials—bluesy, direct, swinging hard. If you want to understand why he mattered, this is better evidence than most of his later, better-known work.
Who's playing
Major Holleybass
Sam Jonesbass
Stanley Turrentinetenor saxophone
Shirley Scottorgan
Ray Barrettocongas
Al Harewoodmembranophone
Clarence Johnsonmembranophone
