If this album were a dinosaur then it would be one those big green ones with long necks. And no, that is not an insult, an album has to do something really impressive to get me to compare it to a dinosaur, especially one that has such a height advantage over all the others. This dinosaur is also a herbivore – it comes in peace, and this album is no exception, it delivers sweet and soulful jazz, the perfect backdrop for a relaxed state of mind.
I found out about this album because I’m a huge fan of George Benson, the great jazz guitarist, who plays guitar on this joint. To my suprise, it was actually the saxophonist, Stanley Turrentine, that really stood out here, even outshining George a little! His tone is phenomenal and really leaks from his soul, his use of vibrato for example is more expressive than most sax players. It has to be heard to be believed, George Benson is fantastic as always, delivering his guitar leads like only a black jazz musician can. The album is only 5 songs long, and each song ranges from the 10-14 minute mark; this is what jazz is all about. The absolute highlight is the live recording of Sugar, it will give you chills. Download it here to get yourself a taste of the magic.
TRACK LISTING:
- Sugar [10:09]
- Sunshine Alley [10:47]
- Impressions [14:14]
- Gibraltar [9:36]
- Sugar (live) [14:30]
Alternatively, if you want to support the artists (which you should!) you can buy the album here; obviously the choice is yours to make.
Filed under: album review, downloads, jazz, music
