Is That's Where It's At a good place to start with Stanley Turrentine?

Yes, That's Where It's At is recommended as a starting point for new Stanley Turrentine listeners. A smooth blend of soulful melodies and intricate improvisations that define Turrentine's signature sound. Released in January 1962, That's Where It's At was Stanley Turrentine's second album on the Blue Note label, following his debut, Up at Minton's. At this stage in his career, Turrentine was beginning to establish himself as a prominent figure in the jazz scene, showcasing his unique tenor saxophone style that combined bluesy phrasing with sophisticated harmonic exploration.

Who is That's Where It's At for?

That's Where It's At works well if you're into long, immersive listening sessions, steady, consistent energy levels and layered, dense sonic textures.

How many songs are on That's Where It's At?

That's Where It's At has 7 tracks, running approximately 47 minutes.

That's Where It's At

Stanley Turrentine · 1962

47 min · 7 tracks · jazz

A smooth blend of soulful melodies and intricate improvisations that define Turrentine's signature sound.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Smile, Stacey Start here — This opening track features a captivating blend of rhythm and melody, setting the tone for the entire album with its upbeat swing and Turrentine’s emotive saxophone lines.
→
Soft Pedal Blues — A standout piece that showcases Turrentine's ability to convey deep emotion through subtle dynamics and a laid-back groove, making it a perfect example of his blues-influenced style.
→
Light Blue — The haunting quality of this track highlights Turrentine's melodic sensibility, combining complexity with accessibility in a way that resonates with both jazz aficionados and casual listeners alike.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

Turrentine's expressive playing and intricate improvisations create a strong jazz identity, though it doesn't fully reshape the genre.

What we noticed

The first three tracks feature a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the last two tracks slow down significantly, creating a contrasting dynamic.
Each track showcases Turrentine's saxophone with extended improvisational sections that highlight his expressive style.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

long, immersive listening sessions
steady, consistent energy levels
layered, dense sonic textures
contemplative evening reflections

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album solidified Turrentine's reputation in the hard bop movement.
Themes: Blue Note elegance· soulful saxophone melodies· 1960s jazz scene
Career context: Released in January 1962, That's Where It's At was Stanley Turrentine's second album on the Blue Note label, following his debut, Up at Minton's. At this stage in his career, Turrentine was beginning to establish himself as a prominent figure in the jazz scene, showcasing his unique tenor saxophone style that combined bluesy phrasing with sophisticated harmonic exploration.
Stylistic neighbors: Horace Silver· Joe Henderson· Cannonball Adderley