About

Recorded in 1964, Stanley Turrentine’s stellar album In Memory Of went unreleased until 1980 when producer Michael Cuscuna discovered it in the Blue Note vaults and issued the session as part of the LT Series. An inspired set that traversed swinging hard bop, beautiful balladry, African rhythms, and more the date featured the soulful tenor saxophonist fronting a tremendous sextet with Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Herbie Hancock on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Otis “Candy” Finch on drums. Highlights include the brightly swinging opener “Fried Pies” written by Wes Montgomery, a stunning performance of the Randy Weston ballad “In Memory Of”, and the irrepressible “Niger Mambo” by the Nigerian musician and composer Bobby Benson.  — (via Label)

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Recorded in 1964 but not released on the label until 1979, In Memory Of saw Turrentine collaborate with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Blue Mitchell, Bob Cranshaw, Curtis Fuller, and Otis Finch. The six-track record captured a session the artists shared on June 3rd, 1964 at the Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

The album features an array of covers from the likes of Wes Montgomery, Bobby Benson, and Bill Lee. In Memory Of was produced by Alfred Lion, and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder. The album marks just one of countless sessions Turrentine played in 1964, many in collaboration with organists Jimmy Smith and Shirley Scott, the latter of whom he was married to from 1960 to 1971. Turrentine died in 2000 following a stroke—he continued to play music, with a specific eye towards soul-jazz fusion, up until the late 1990s.

In Memory Of is the latest of Turrentine’s works to join the Blue Note Tone Poet Series, launched in 2019 by the producer and “Tone Poet” Joe Harley, who handpicks every record reissued in the series. Previously-featured Turrentine records include That’s Where It’s At, Rough ‘N Tumble, Comin’ Your Way and Mr. Natural. Recent artists highlighted in the series include Chet Baker, Duke Ellington, Bobby Hutcherson, Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley, and Baby Face Willette. — (via Label)

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About the Blue Note Tone Poet Series:

The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley, a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180g audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.

Vinyl Tracklist
A1 Fried Pies
A2 In Memory Of
A3 Niger Mambo
B1 Make Someone Happy
B2 Jodi's Cha Cha
B3 Sunday In New York

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Label: Blue Note
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Gatefold, 180 Gram
Reissued: 2025 / Originally Released: 1980
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop

File under: Jazz // Blue Note Tone Poet
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