Stanley Turrentine "Tender Togetherness" { Originally released in 1981 on Elektra Records / Reissued for CD in 2005 on Wounded Bird Records ..... Yes, you read that right, Wounded Bird ..... Don't ask me, I still haven't figured that one out yet :-( ..... AND DON'T WANT TO EITHER !!!! }

The late great tenor saxophonist, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native, Mr. Stanley Turrentine, best known as "Mr. T", delivered one of his finest albums in 1981 on the Elektra Records imprint, titled, "Tenderness Togetherness". He was the original "Mr. T" light years before the thick gold chained, mohawk wearing, former bodyguard turned "A" Team actor the past couple of generations now call Mr. T. Stanley was indeed the first, and will ALWAYS be, "The Original Mr.T". This milestone recording was produced by none other than Denver, Colorado native, and former Earth, Wind, & Fire keyboardist/songwriter/co-producer, and musical director throughout the EWF era that mattered the most, {1972-1983}, the GOD BLESSED, and super talented, Mr. Larry Dunn. This nine selection "Rembrandt" of a recording run the gamut from funk, dance, part rap, ballads, to smooth jazz and R&B, DONE RIGHT !!! There's no better way for me to commemorate the 30th anniversary of this groudbreaking project, but to give this classic it's looooooooooong overdue props. ........ So ladies and gentlemen, I present to you ......... Mr. Stanley William Turrentine's "Tender Togetherness" ......... (((( This is where you applaud ........ C'mon now ! PUT THOSE HANDS TOGETHER !!!! )))

Besides Larry handling most of the keyboard duties, this album feature a wide variety of the best musicians the west coast had, and still, has to offer. They include session drummer great Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, super Contemporary Jazz group Fourplay bassist Nathan East, Larry's then fellow EWF bandmates, guitarist Roland Bautista, Freddie White on drums, Andrew Woolfolk on saxophone, Ralph Johnson and Philip Bailey on percussions and vocals respectively. In addition, Larry's brother Steven Dunn helped out in the drum chair, as well as percussion, as well as venerable session bassist, Byron Miller. Session monster Paulinho Da Costa came on board and graced this project on various percussions. Guest synthesizer wizards to lend their extraordinary talents included Tom Piggott, Denzil A. "Broadway" Miller, Jr. & Jeff Johnson. Also featured are the blazing brass and woodwind quartet of The Phenix Horns, consisting of the late Don Myrick on Saxophones, the late Louis Satterfield on Trombone, Michael Harris on Trumpet, and last, but certainly not least, Rahmlee Michael Davis on Trumpet. Many great 'first call' session musicians and singers contributed their God given talents to this record to help me it the creme de la creme recording that it is. Let me add that the strings are beautifully arranged and conducted by the virtuosic, Mr. George del Barrio. Now let's spotlight some of the highlights of this "8th Wonder of The World".

...... but before we do that, I ABSOLUTELY AND POSITIVELY have to give an honorable mention to the recording/mixing engineer, Mr. Chris Brunt, and his more than competent assistant engineers, Mr. Dennis Hansen and Mr. Warren Weinberg, as well as the mastering engineer, Mr. Ken Perry, for blessing this record with their more than sharp ears and overall sense of musicality. Kudos to those gentlemen for making sure every instrument was miked properly, every 2 inch, 1/4 inch, and half inch tape machine was aligned properly, as well as to make sure the recording console was fully operational so that each track and their levels are at their maximum capability. A special acknowledgement goes out to Indigo Ranch Studio owner, Mr. Richard Kaplan and his wife (I don't know her name unfortunately, but I'd like to Thank her nonetheless for keeping Richard and the studio at their very best), and to their staff for making sure Stanley, Larry, as well as every participant on this record, feel at home and comfortable in order for them to give their 1,000% best to make this album possible. BRAVO EVERYONE !!!

"Hermanos" {Beautifully written & arranged by Eddie del Barrio & Larry Dunn} : This 5:37 opus begins with a haunting, yet ethereal sounding landscape of sweeping percussions, sweet sounding chords of the acoustic piano, in tandem with the earth tonal notes of the Mini-Moog, then breaks into funk throwdown that'll make it so hard for your feet NOT to move. The one thing I love about the track, besides Stanley's dark and husky performed tenor sax lines, is Roland Batista's funky chicken scratch rhythm guitar parts. Nathan East just kills it with his solid bass guitar fretwork and groove, as he plucks, strums, and bended notes on the Yamaha bass (I'm not sure if that was his brand of choice then, but it sounds like he used an Alembic, I'd have to ask him) Of course Larry and Eddie del held it down on the electric piano and synthersizers, respectively. The song is a fantastic start to a more than above average album.

"I'll Give You My Love", is a nice drop top convertible, cruise along the Pacific Coast Highway, or I-95, type of song that'll have your hair blowing in the wind as you have it cranked to 10. Stanley and his tenor sax entertains with a soulful and jazzy vibe that coincides marvelously with the Phenix Horns' undeniable trademarked sound. The coo'ing, soothing, and beautifully tempered background vocals of session stalwarts, Ms. Marlena Jeter and Ms. Gwen Matthews, gives this track a well even balance. Another standout element you'll notice is the rhythmically dynamic Fender Rhodes and Clavinet performance of Denzil Miller, as Larry gives it the Mini-Moog Bass support that is felt, more than heard. Roland Bautista's, once again, lightning fast guitar licks, Byron Miller's thumping bass, and Ndugu's steady backbeat culminates to a party jam that you'll play for days on end. Great song !

"After The Love Is Gone". This 1979 Earth, Wind & Fire golden chestnut is MASTERFULLY, BRILLIANTLY, & VALIANTLY remade here that, to me, gave the original a serious run for the money. Don't get me wrong, I love the EWF version, always have, and always will ! .... Bu .... bu ...but I'd much rather listen to this version, than EWF's version. ...... and why, you ask ? ...... I'll tell you why. Well, simply put, it sounds better, sonically and arrangement wise, that's why..... and here are the other reasons why. Number one, some of the cats that played on the original, and made the original shine in the first place are playing keyboards, drums and horns ....... and we all know whom they are, so I DON'T have to say their names, Larry Dunn, Freddie White, and The Phenix Horns, accompanied by Jerry Hey on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Sidney Muldaow, David Duke on french horns ........ and two, Stanley's warm as a cup of hot chocolate on cold winter's night tenor sax performance. Now let's talk about some of the performances of the musicians that brought this spectacular version to life. This song benefitted from Roland Bautista's light and gentle pluckings, as well as his airy strums on the acoustic guitar, Nathan's superflous bass playing that added the 'meat and potatos', Freddie's 'on the one spit and glue' drumming that keep the musicians on point, and Larry's omnipresent Mini-Moog. The great percussion work of Steven Dunn added a feeling of 'completeness' to the song at large. Oh ! How could I forgot the heavenly sounding vocals of another session vocalist behemoth, Ms. Lynn Davis. She made this song an absolute joy to listen to. It's perfect ! ..... You don't have to take my word for it, just listen for yourselves at the botton of this review.

One of my favorites on this album, and quite honestly, one of my favorite songs of all time, is the Steven Dunn composition, the magnificent "World Chimes". With the author of this tune himself on drums, he knew exactly how to keep the good vibes flowing with his emotion filled, well paced feet and arm work. Larry's tried and true Mini-Moog Bass excursions is just what the doctor ordered, a funky flow, and cure for the bored foot wanting to get it's tap on. Roland's 'wall of sound' guitar fingered fretboard duties blended real nicely with Nathan East's 'stroke of genius' 4 stringed bass guitar performance. But what really sent me into orbit is the bass trombone notes of another session monster, Bill Reichenbach. He played sub octave notes rarely heard on a groovy sounding record. Another highlight for me was Larry's masterpiece performance of the higher registered played notes on the Mini-Moog in tandem with the string section. Together, they sounded one and the same, EXCELLENT ! .... and let's not forget Mr. T and the fine sax playing he displayed here. It's always in tune, and he's always challenging the tenor saxophone to produce sounds the instrument itself never knew could come up with.

To close this 'Eiffel Tower', 'Mt. Rushmore', 'Grand Canyon', 'Lunar Eclipse', 'Denver Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel' of an album ...{Smile Larry} ... I present to you, the funk fused party, and Stanley Turrentine anthem, one of them at least, "Havin' Fun With Mr. T". This song is sooooooo funky, I can't even describe it ! Which means you'll just have to whip out the credit card and purchase the CD to hear for yourselves ...... Yes, I went there ! :-) ....... and don't even bother to try and find it on YouTube or Daily Motion, because you won't. Listen, ladies and gentlemen, I would NEVER steer you wrong when it comes to music. You just have to trust me on this one and buy this CD, you WILL NOT be disappointed, I GUARANTEE IT !! With being said .........

I'D LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS REVIEW TO GOD FOR BLESSING ME WITH GIFT OF LIFE, AND TO BE ABLE TO, ATTEMPT, TO WRITE REVIEWS TO KEEP TRUE MUSIC LOVERS OF THE WORLD INFORMED. SECOND, I'D LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS REVIEW TO THE WONDERFUL SPIRIT OF MR. STANLEY TURRENTINE. THOUGH WE'VE NEVER MET PERSONALLY, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THROUGH YOUR SONGS. THEY HAVE BEEN, AND WILL ALWAYS BE, A PART OF ME GROWING UP AS AN ASPIRING MUSICIAN. THANK YOU !

LAST, BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, I'D LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS REVIEW TO MY 'BROTHER', MR. LARRY DUNN. LARRY, I'M TRULY HONORED AND BLESSED TO HAVE YOU AS A FRIEND. OUR FAMILYSHIP GOES BEYOND THE EARTH, WIND AND FIRE THING, IT'S A MUTUALLY SPIRITUAL BONDING I WILL CHERISH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB ON THIS ALBUM AND GOD WAS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, HENCE THE RESULTS OF THIS MASTERPIECE. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR LOVELY WIFE, MY SISTER, LUISA DUNN ! ..... AND GOD BLESS TO THOSE THAT TOOK THE TIME TO READ THIS REVIEW, I THANK YOU ALL !!

Musically Yours,

Ran Man

Visit and become a friend of Stanley Turrentine's Tribute Page on MySpace at, {Make sure you're logged on first} : http://www.myspace.com/stanleyturrentinetribute

Become a friend of Larry Dunn on Facebook at, {Make sure you're logged on first} : http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/LorenzoDunn

Visit Larry Dunn's Official Website at : http://www.larrydunnmusic.com/

Visit and become a friend of Larry Dunn on MySpace ..... if MySpace is even relevant at this point, at {Once again, make sure you're logged on} : http://www.myspace.com/larrydunn

You can purchase "Tender Togetherness" for only $10.98 directly from CD reissue record company, ........... ((((gulp)))) ........ Wounded Bird Records : http://www.woundedbird.com/

-OR-

....... You can visit the Amazon.Com page where you can get a copy of this album YOU FORGOT to purchase 30 years ago, ....... but never too late to redeem yourself : http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009E3284/ref=s9_simh_gw_p15_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1X7B9C89SDF834MX3SFE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846