Easy Walker is a fairly standard but highly enjoyable small-group soul-jazz session from
Stanley Turrentine. Backed by a rhythm section of pianist
McCoy Tyner, drummer
Mickey Roker, and bassist
Bob Cranshaw,
Turrentine turns in a number of rich, round, and full-bodied leads which are perfectly complemented by
Tyner's strutting, sympathetic piano. Largely divided between midtempo grooves and slow blues, with a couple of pop covers like "What the World Needs Now Is Love," thrown in,
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. The 1997 CD reissue features four bonus tracks which were recorded with drummer
Billy Cobham and bassist
Gene Taylor, along with
Tyner; the highlight of these is a breezy version of
Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Wave." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine