Turning Point

by Dr. Lonnie Smith

Overview

Most Blue Note soul-jazz albums from the late '60s went one of three ways: it either was a straight-ahead commercial session, a slightly psychedelic outing, or a funky workout with a vague "Black Power" theme. Dr. Lonnie Smith had followed the latter path with Think!, the predecessor to Turning Point, and there are still remnants of that style on this session, particularly in the opening cover of Don Covay's "See Saw." Nevertheless, Turning Point is a more adventurous affair than Think!, finding Smith -- as well as trumpeter Lee Morgan, trombonist Julian Priester, guitarist Melvin Sparks, tenor saxophonist Bennie Maupin and drummer Leo Morris -- exploring territory that isn't quite free, but is certainly more "out there" than the average soul-jazz session. In particular, Smith's originals "Slow High" and "Turning Point" reach the outer edges of the style, playing with dissonance, complex melodies and expansive sound structures. Despite all these free flourishes, Turning Point remains a soul-jazz record and it has all the trappings of its era -- the take on "Eleanor Rigby" finds the group approximating psychedelia. While the more adventurous elements of Turning Point make for an intriguing listen, the album isn't quite as enjoyable as the harder grooving sessions or the spacier soul-jazz records from the same era. Nevertheless, it's a worthwhile listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	05/23/2025
Label:	Blue Note Import
UPC:	0602465242942

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dr. Lonnie Smith   Primary Artist,Organ
Lee Morgan   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Idris Muhammad   Guest Artist,Drums
Melvin Sparks   Guest Artist,Guitar
Bennie Maupin   Guest Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Julian Priester   Guest Artist,Trombone
Leo Morris   Drums

Technical Credits

Rudy Van Gelder   Audio Engineer,Remastering,Engineer
Francis Wolff   Audio Production,Photography,Producer
Steve Cropper   Composer
Titus Turner   Composer
James McDougal   Composer
Eddy Love   Liner Notes
Micaela Boland   Design,Art Direction
Paul McCartney   Composer
Bob Blumenthal   Liner Notes
Michael Cuscuna   Reissue Producer
Dr. Lonnie Smith   Composer
John Lennon   Composer
Don Covay   Composer
Jay McDougal   Composer
Gordon H. Jee   Creative Director
Bob Lampard   Cover Photo