Butterl\fly Lovers

These nine ballads were recorded by Stanley Turrentine between 1962 and 1969. Apart from being a genuinely wonderful set of romantic tunes, Music for Lovers showcases a soft side of the great tenor's playing. Turrentine is one of the quintessential soul-jazz saxophonists. His Blue Note recordings from the 1960s with Shirley Scott are generally the works cited, but there is so much other material on offer that a small collection like this is welcome. A pair of ballads with Scott on organ are here, representing that darker groove aspect, but so are tunes with pianists like Sonny Clark, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Horace Parlan, and Cedar Walton…

This edition of Blue Note's Music for Lovers set combines nine remastered tracks by hard bop trumpeter Lee Morgan recorded between 1957 and 1967. Obviously, the purpose of this CD is to spotlight Morgan's romantic side by featuring such standards as "You Go to My Head," "What Now My Love," and "Lover Man." The trumpeter is in excellent company on these tracks, sharing the spotlight with several legendary horn players including Wayne Shorter, Hank Mobley, Curtis Fuller, Jackie McLean, Benny Golson, Gigi Gryce, and Pepper Adams. Despite the drab packaging and generic title, the music of Lee Morgan remains timeless in any context.

Here are ten tracks showcasing the utter beauty of Horace Silver's playing - and in some cases, composing - jazz ballads. These tunes are lushly romantic and utterly soulful. Recorded between 1952 and 1968, this collection features such notable Silver compositions as "Peace," "Shirl," "Sweet Stuff," "Lonely Woman," and the gorgeous "Next Time I Fall in Love." The rest is choice as well - especially for a budget-priced set - and includes Silver's read of Duke Ellington's masterpiece "Prelude to a Kiss," accompanied by Art Blakey and Curly Russell from 1952, and Guy Wood and Robert Mellin's "My One and Only Love," with Art Farmer, Hank Mobley, Louis Hayes, and Teddy Kotick. This isn't the funky, soul-jazzin' Silver, but the romantic, poetic balladeer whispering to lovers.

Part of Blue Note's Music for Lovers series - although points should be taken off for the lousy covers - these nine cuts show a different side of the wild, inventive, and funky soul-jazz organist Jimmy Smith. These ballads were recorded between 1958 and 1960 (with one exception, "Little Girl Blue," taped in 1957), all of them standards. Smith is in fine company on these sides. Some of the other players include Kenny Burrell, Ray Crawford, Blue Mitchell, Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson, Jackie McLean, and Ike Quebec. Smith's sensitive side is revealed in readings of "Lover Man," "Willow Weep for Me," "Angel Eyes," "My One and Only Love," and "It Could Happen to You"…

These nine ballads were recorded by Hank Mobley between 1955 and 1967. Apart from being a genuinely wonderful set of romantic tunes, Music for Lovers showcases a different side of the great hard bop tenor's playing. Mobley's approach to ballads was reverent, but it was loose, too. Mobley brought a big helping of soul to his readings of standards such as "Darn That Dream," "I Should Care," and even the ethereal "Deep in a Dream." However, as this small collection illustrates, it is in his own tunes that Mobley shines brightest. First, there's the beautiful "No More Goodbyes," recorded with Bob Cranshaw, Billy Higgins, and John Hicks from a late date in 1967…