Stanley Turrentine – Salt Song (CTI, 1971)

Stanley Turrentine (ts); Eumir Deodato (el p, arr, cond); Eric Gale (g); Horace Parlan (p, el p, org); Richard Tee (p, el p, org); Ron Carter (b); Billy Cobham (d); Airto Moreira (d, perc); Margaret Branch (vo); Brenda Bryant (vo); Patsy Smith (vo); Julius Brand (vn); Paul Gershman (vn); Julius Held (vn); Leo Kahn (vn); Harry Katzman (vn); Joe Malin (vn); Harold Coletta (va); Charles McCracken (vc); Alan Shulman (vc)

Additional personnel on CD bonus track, "Vera Cruz":  Hubert Laws (fl); George Marge (fl); Romeo Penque (fl); Jerome Richardson (fl); Sivuca (g); Russell George (b); João Palma (d, perc); Dom Um Romão (d, perc)

Recorded on April 23, 1971 and July 7 & 13, 1971

The first thing that you'll notice about this record is Stanley Turrentine's tenor.  He has such a commanding, soulful voice!  And the second thing you'll notice is the subtle but transfixing Brazilian accents that Eumir Deodato and Airto Moreira bring to the session.  Deodato's arrangements set off Turrentine's horn, making it glitter like a diamond.  And Turrentine's sound, so deeply rooted in America (both its streets and churches), blends with the refreshingly different sounds of Brazil, marrying the two worlds in an irresistible fusion.

More Stanley Turrentine
Turrentine was well served by Creed Taylor's big production approach at CTI.  His records for the label are uniformly strong.  Along with foot fetishists everywhere (who are drawn to Pete Turner's memorable cover image), I'm partial to Sugar (CTI, 1970).  This was Turrentine's first release for the label, and it's a classic in every way.  I also enjoy Cherry (CTI, 1972), which pairs the tenorist with another master of the soulful sound, vibraphonist Milt Jackson.