Easy Walker

Easy Walker is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine recorded for the Blue Note label in 1966 and performed by Turrentine with McCoy Tyner, Bob Cranshaw, and Mickey Roker.^[1] One additional track featuring an expanded line-up arranged by Duke Pearson was added to the original CD release and another four bonus tracks recorded in 1969 and originally released on Ain't No Way were added to the 1997 CD reissue.^[2]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 4 stars and states "Easy Walker doesn't offer much challenging material, but it does let the musicians work a good groove, and occasionally showcase their improvisational skills, making it a good, relaxing soul-jazz session".^[4] A review of the reissued CD in All About Jazz stated that "Blue Note has thrown in some real bonuses [that] make this CD worth the price of admission at 70 minutes. The 1966 material is good and will surprise few who are familiar with the tenor's Blue Note work... both Tyner and Turrentine attack the songs with their respective signatures and illustrate some of their finest playing of the period. Good stuff".^[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Stanley Turrentine except as indicated

1. "Meat Wave" (Hank Johnson) - 4:43
2. "They All Say I'm the Biggest Fool" (Buddy Johnson) - 7:41
3. "Yours Is My Heart Alone" (Franz Lehar) - 5:05
4. "Easy Walker" (Billy Taylor) - 6:12
5. "What the World Needs Now" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) - 6:41
6. "Alone Together" (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) - 5:40
7. "A Foggy Day" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 6:23 Bonus track on CD
8. "Stan's Shuffle" - 6:56 Bonus track on 1997 CD reissue
9. "Watch What Happens" (Norman Gimbel, Michel Legrand) - 5:32 Bonus track on 1997 CD reissue
10. "Intermission Walk" - 6:39 Bonus track on 1997 CD reissue
11. "Wave" (Antonio Carlos Jobim) - 8:13 Bonus track on 1997 CD reissue

• Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on July 8, 1966 (tracks 1-6) July 28, 1967 (track 7) and June 23, 1969 (tracks 8-11).

Personnel

• Stanley Turrentine - tenor saxophone
• McCoy Tyner - piano, electric piano
• Bob Cranshaw - bass (tracks 1-7)
• Gene Taylor - bass (tracks 8-11)
• Mickey Roker - drums (tracks 1-6)
• Ray Lucas - drums (track 7)
• Billy Cobham - drums (tracks 8-11)
• Richard Landrum congas, bongos, tambourine (track 7)
• Blue Mitchell - trumpet (track 7)
• Garnett Brown - trombone (track 7)
• James Spaulding - alto saxophone, flute (track 7)
• Duke Pearson - organ, arranger (track 7)

Production

• Alfred Lion - producer
• Rudy Van Gelder - engineer

References