Sister Sanctified

Recorded in May 1972 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, with Turrentine on tenor saxophone alongside vibraphonist Milt Jackson, Bob James on electric piano, Cornell Dupree on guitar, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums; composer Weldon Irvine Jr. handled the arrangement for the track. A centrepiece of Turrentine's landmark CTI album Cherry, 'Sister Sanctified' showcased the label's signature blend of hard-bop soul and lush studio funk at a moment when Creed Taylor's roster was redefining commercial jazz production. The Weldon Irvine composition brought an explicitly community-rooted Black consciousness sensibility to an all-star session. The track became one of the most sampled pieces from the CTI catalogue and a staple of the Ultimate Breaks and Beats era, with its drum groove and horn-driven rhythm section lifting it into the hip-hop and rare-groove canons. It remains a benchmark recording of Turrentine's CTI period and a touchstone for producers and DJs across several decades.