Shirley Scott

During the 1960's, Shirley Scott's Impulse albums were often split between big band selections (with orchestras arranged by Oliver Nelson) and trio features. This CD reissue includes all of the contents from two of Scott's better Impulse albums, Great Scott and For Members Only. In general the eight trio numbers are the most rewarding performances on the disc since the material is fairly superior while the big band tracks emphasize then-current show and movie tunes. Overall this generous CD gives one a good overview of Shirley Scott's playing talents.

A smart combination of two 1961 albums, Hip Soul and Hip Twist, both of which featured Stanley Turrentine on sax. Hip Soul is the smokier and livelier of the pair, especially on "Stanley's Time" and the Turrentine-composed title track; the material is delivered with a taut intelligence. Hip Twist doesn't suffer much in comparison, though, and gives Scott a bit more presence, as she introduces several themes with impassioned swirls; unlike Hip Soul, it has a couple of tunes from her own pen.

Soul Searching spotlights Shirley Scott's accelerated development as a composer - originals like "Duck and Rock" and "Plunk Plunk Plunk" are solidly yet spaciously constructed, affording Scott's Hammond organ the room to vamp, flutter, and wail its way in and around the melodies. Longtime collaborators Wendell Marshall on bass and Arthur Edgehill on drums are typically effective in establishing the simple but lively rhythms that keep Scott's more self-indulgent impulses in check - each song is a model of energy and efficiency as tight as an outgrown pair of shoes. Still, taken as a whole Soul Searching wears thin - the austerity of the arrangements offers little variation from track to track, and after a while one wishes for additional elements in the mix, à la Scott's more soulful outings with husband/tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine.

Organist Shirley Scott and her then-husband, tenor great Stanley Turrentine always made potent music together. This CD, which combines together the former Prestige LPs The Soul Is Willing and Soul Shoutin', finds "Mr. T." at his early peak, playing some intense yet always soulful solos on such pieces as Sy Oliver's "Yes Indeed," "Secret Love," and his memorable originals "The Soul Is Willing" and "Deep Down Soul." Scott, who found her own niche within the dominant Jimmy Smith style, swings hard throughout the set and (together with drummer Grassella Oliphant and either Major Holley or Earl May on bass) the lead voices play with such consistent enthusiasm that one would think these were club performances.

A groovy groovy electric set from Hammond giant Shirley Scott - a set that really kicks things up in the rhythm department, in a way ties the album as much to Atlantic Records soul of the 60s as it does to some of Scott's earlier work for Prestige! There's a great pulse at the bottom of the tunes - thanks to guitar work from Billy Butler and Eric Gale, and some sweet electric bass from Chuck Rainey - working here in the rhythm section with Jimmy Johnson on drums and Ralph MacDonald on congas. The combination of all these great players on one date really makes things cook - and Shirley's organ sounds groovier than ever - so much so, she also seems free to try out a few sounds here on piano and ondoline as well. Things take on a nicely trippy feel at times, and a funky groove at others.

All of the many collaborations between organist Shirley Scott and tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine in the 1960s resulted in high-quality soul jazz, groovin' music that was boppish enough to interest jazz listeners and basic enough for a wider audience. This CD reissue has the duo (joined by bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Otis "Candy" Finch) performing a pair of Scott originals, Benny Golson's "Five Spot After Dark," Sonny Rollins' obscure "Grand Street" and the veteran standard "Flamingo."

This exceptional release includes the complete recordings of Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis' collaboration with the inimitable organist. The band remains loose and relaxed throughout 24 classic standards, continuously feeding off of one another and always playing with style, grace and impeccable taste.