Stanley Turrentine – Look Out! (Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition)

After making a strong impression in a sideman role on Jimmy Smith's twin soul jazz classics Midnight Special and Back at the Chicken Shack in April 1960, Blue Note boss Alfred Lion brought Stanley Turrentine back into Van Gelder Studio in June to record his own debut album as a leader, Look Out!, which formerly announced the arrival of a deeply soulful saxophonist who imbued every note he played with feeling. Along with the tried-and-true rhythm section of pianist Horace Parlan, bassist George Tucker, and drummer Al Harewood, Mr. T delivered a superb set of hard bop featuring his indelible tunes "Look Out," "Little Sheri," "Minor Chant," along with swinging numbers by Parlan ("Return Engagement") and Clifford Brown ("Tiny Capers") and a stunning performance of the Robert Farnon ballad "Journey into Melody."

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Review

...Look Out!...shows as much artful restraint as it does groove. Not that this is a bad thing, since it allows Turrentine's big, clear tone to shine through in all its muscular sweetness, giving Look Out! a wonderful and flowing coherence.

-Steve Leggett, AllMusic.com, 4.5/5 stars