Big Joe Turner was among the greatest
jump blues shouters of all time, and he certainly helped pave the way for the
rock & roll explosion of the mid-'50s. But
Turner was also a fine
jazz singer. When the Kansas City native recorded for
Norman Granz's Pablo label in the '70s, he was often heard in
jazz settings -- and The Midnight Special is among the
swing-oriented dates that
Turner provided for Pablo when he was in his sixties. This album, which Fantasy reissued on CD in 2002 for the Original Jazz Classics (OJC) series, was recorded in a Los Angeles studio in 1976. But The Midnight Special sounds like it could have been recorded in a small club. That's because it has the feeling of a loose jam session;
Turner and his hard-swinging sidemen (who include saxophonist
Curtis Peagler, trumpeter
Jake Porter, and guitarist
Cal Green, among others) sound delightfully spontaneous on
standards that range from "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and "You're Driving Me Crazy" to
Leadbelly's "The Midnight Special." The singer also turns his attention to
Woody Guthrie's "So Long" (a
folk song) and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"; although
Tony Bennett recorded the definitive version of the latter,
Turner's
jazz interpretation isn't without its charms. To his credit,
Turner doesn't even try to emulate
Bennett's version -- he's wise enough to do his own thing. The Midnight Special isn't among
Turner's essential releases, but it's an enjoyable outing that hardcore fans will appreciate -- and collectors will be happy to know that Fantasy has added five bonus tracks (most of them alternate takes). ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
