A real step forward for Quincy Jones – a record that really shows the jazzman moving into sophisticated new territory – a sound that's just right for the CTI generation! The album's got a vibe that's a bit similar to Quincy's Walking In Space album, but it's a lot deeper too – touched with some of the African elements you might guess from the title – arranged in ways that are often quite spacious, so that the tunes really take some time to find just the right groove! Backings are large, but show the leaner elements that Jones was bringing to his soundtrack work – and instrumentation includes vibes from Milt Jackson, marimba from Don Elliott, flute from Hubert Laws, soprano sax from Jerome Richardson, trumpet from Freddie Hubbard, trombone from Al Grey, and guitar from Eric Gale. Keyboards figure strongly – played by Herbie Hancock and Bob James – and special features include a bit of guitar and whistling from Toots Thielemans, plus some soulful vocals from Valerie Simpson. "Gula Matari" is an incredible 12 minute tribal groove – and other titles include a killer take on Nat Adderley's "Hummin", plus "Walkin" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water". LP, Vinyl record album

A pivotal album not just in the career of Quincy Jones, but in the development of the CTI Records sound as well – as this all-star effort is a perfect blend of all the hippest currents that were cooking up in the scene at the time! At one level, the record has Quincy taking back some of the sophisticated currents he was developing in soundtrack work of the 60s, but moving back to jazz – more groove than before, and more of a sense of space and timing – which is carried off by an excellent lineup that features plenty of electric piano from Bob James, plus work from Hubert Laws on flute, Eric Gale on guitar, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, and Toots Thielemans on guitar and harmonica. There's also added soulful vocals at a few points too – more chorus than lyrics, at a level that hints at the jazz/soul crossovers that Quincy would do in the 70s – on a set of tracks that's completely sublime, with titles that include "Killer Joe", "Dead End", "Walking In Space", and "Love & Peace". CD

A pivotal album not just in the career of Quincy Jones, but in the development of the CTI Records sound as well – as this all-star effort is a perfect blend of all the hippest currents that were cooking up in the scene at the time! At one level, the record has Quincy taking back some of the sophisticated currents he was developing in soundtrack work of the 60s, but moving back to jazz – more groove than before, and more of a sense of space and timing – which is carried off by an excellent lineup that features plenty of electric piano from Bob James, plus work from Hubert Laws on flute, Eric Gale on guitar, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, and Toots Thielemans on guitar and harmonica. There's also added soulful vocals at a few points too – more chorus than lyrics, at a level that hints at the jazz/soul crossovers that Quincy would do in the 70s – on a set of tracks that's completely sublime, with titles that include "Killer Joe", "Dead End", "Walking In Space", and "Love & Peace". LP, Vinyl record album

A great combination – the tremendous vocals of Billy Eckstine, getting a nice 60s update with the backings of Quincy Jones – whose arrangements really send things over the top! Titles include "Work Song", "Caravan", "Fool That I Am", "All Right Ok You Win", and "In The Still Of The Night". LP, Vinyl record album

A very swingin, very groovy early album from Quincy – one that's clearly in the big band mode, but handled with soulful touches that really set it apart from the genre! The band is a great one all the way through – and the album features solos by Zoot Sims, Jerome Richardson, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, and Harry Edison. Tracks are very often in a soul jazz mode – arranged by Quincy and Melba Liston – and featuring versions of some of the best jazz compositions of the time. Titles include "Moanin", "I Remember Clifford", "Along Came Betty", and "Whisper Not". LP, Vinyl record album

A much-needed look at an overlooked side of the genius of Quincy Jones – not his jazz work, not his productions for famous soul artists, but instead his huge legacy of soundtrack material – a part of Q's career that really took off in the 60s! By the time he started working in films, Jones had already had a decade under his belt as one of the hippest arrangers, leaders, and composers in jazz – and the film business really respected those talents, and allowed Quincy to bring some really fresh styles into play – modes that really opened up the vibe of American cinema, and also paved the way for the funky styles of the 70s! As that decade approached, Jones left behind the cinema to take on some more higher-profile records of his own – but all the charms of those great albums can be found here at their roots – in this stunning collection of soundtrack material, some of which has never been on CD. The package is way more than just a sampler – and includes an album's worth of material from the films The Pawnbroker, Slender Thread, Mirage, The Deadly Affair, In The Heat Of The Night, In Cold Blood, Walk Don't Run, The Italian Job, Lost Man, and John & Mary – plus two versions of the love theme from The Getaway, and a bonus CD with 18 tracks – titled Q's highlights, and featuring tracks from his Mercury records – plus more by Billy Preston, Arthur Prysock, Bill Cosby, Shirley Horn, Letta Mbulu, Toots Thielemans, and others. Even features the "Sanford & Son" and "Ironside" themes! CD

Call it a love of dancers or just plain Quincy Jones groove – this album's filled with tight tracks that are a perfect showcase for the ways in which Quincy had such a huge influence on jazz in the 60s! The tunes are often old standards, but done here in a style that's nicely syncopated – taking on that Jones love of space and sound, and working it through some big band tracks at a level that creates grooves that are a lot hipper than you'd hear on albums like this from most of his contemporaries! Players are all top-notch – and include Benny Bailey and Freddie Hubbard on trumpets, Melba Liston and Curtis Fuller on trombones, Jerome Richardson and Oliver Nelson on tenor, Sahib Shihab on baritone sax, Patti Brown on piano, and Les Spann on guitar and flute. Heck, even liner notes from Dorothy Kilgallen can't keep this one from being nice – and titles include "Chinese Checkers", "Tone Poem", "G'Wan Train", "Pleasingly Plump", and "A Sunday Kind Of Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer soundtrack from the great Quincy Jones – done for a crucial Sidney Poitier film done during the Civil Rights era – with a great mix of jazz, soul, and blues-styled instrumentation! Roland Kirk is in the larger lineup, and you can definitely hear some nice solos on funky flute – and there's also some vocal tracks too! Ray Charles sings "In The Heat Of The Night", Glen Campbell sings "Bowlegged Polly", and Gil Bernal sings "It Sure Is Groovy" – and Charles delivers a piano solo on "Mama Caleba's Blues". But the best cuts are the instrumentals – which include "Whipping Boy", "Nitty Gritty Time", "Shag Bag Hounds & Harvey", "Blood & Roots", "Give Me Until Morning", "On Your Feet Boy", and "Peep Freak Patrol Car". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice one by Quincy! Although the material here isn't funky like his 70's work, it does show Quincy as a strong composer of serious thriller-type material – working in a style that produces a nice amount of tension and mood, and which still has some nice touches of jazz. The group is filled with strong jazz players like Freddie Hubbard, Anthony Ortega, Oliver Nelson, Elvin Jones, and others – and the album features a vocal version of the theme by Marc Allen, plus a crazy spoken bit from the movie, by Rod Steiger! Other titles include "Harlem Drive", "Naked Truth", "Rack 'Em Up", and "Death Scene". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Is It Love That We're Missin'", "Sanford & Son Theme (The Streetbeater)", "Razzamatazz", "Gula Matari", "One Hundred Ways", "Things Could Be Worse For Me", "Hikky-Burr", "You've Got It Bad Girl", and "Boogie Joe, The Grinder". CD

Quincy Jones meets Henry Mancini – and the result is an album that's as groovy as it is jazzy – every bit as wonderful as you might expect, and with a few surprising touches as well! Given that Mancini's tunes are already pretty darn great on their own – and plenty jazzy too – it's amazing to hear Quincy transform them for the record, bringing in some of the styles that would show up even more strongly in his own 60s soundtrack work – clever instrumental twists, occasional electric moments, and a growing sensitivity we never would have expected in his music a decade before. There's loads of lovely reeds – courtesy of Jerome Richardson, Seldon Powell, Zoot Sims, and Roland Kirk – and other players include Gary Burton on vibes, Mundell Lowe on guitar, Toots Thielemans on harmonica, and Phil Krauss on percussion. Titles include "Baby Elephant Walk", "Charade", "Dreamsville", "Bird Brain", "Days Of Wine And Roses", "Mr Lucky", "Pink Panther", "Moon River", "Peter Gunn", and "Odd Ball". LP, Vinyl record album

Starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor. Soundtrack features work by Toots Thielemans, Jerome Richardson, Eric Gale, and Michael Brecker, with compostions by Ashford & Simpson and Luther Vandross. LP, Vinyl record album

The film may not have been a classic, but the soundtrack is a cinematic gem from Quincy Jones – a record that's full of great soul and jazz touches – with vocal work from Nate Turner, The Mirettes, Ernestine Anderson, The Pree Sisters, and Venetta Fields! The set's maybe best remembered for the funky instrumental cut "Main Squeeze" – alongside other instrumentals that include "Slum Creeper" and "Up Against the Wall" – plus vocal cuts "Try Try Try", "He'll Wash You Whiter Than Snow", "He Says He Loves Me", "Rap Run It On Down", and "Sweet Soul Sisters". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

One of the last really all-star sets from Quincy Jones – and a record that reprises the format of some of his big records of the 70s – like Mellow Madness or Body Heat – in a way that has Quincy surrounding himself with top-shelf artists of all sorts, from jazz soloists, to hip hoppers, to R&B vocalists. Kool Moe Dee & Big Daddy Kane rap on a version of "Birdland" that also has solos from Miles, Diz, and James Moody; Take 6 sing on a mellow version of Ivan Lins' "Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song)", Bobby McFerrin sings goofily on "Wee B Dooinit", Siedah Garrett and Al B Sure sing on "The Secret Garden", and a whole choir joins in on "Tomorrow". LP, Vinyl record album

Perhaps THE greatest Quincy Jones album of the 60s – a hard-swinging batch of big band bossa tunes – and one of the greatest American takes on the bossa sound ever! Quincy really brings a lot of soul to the set – syncopating the bottom end of the tunes to really bring out the rhythms, and working with a jazzy flourish of horns that creates all these quick and clever little turns in the tunes! The sound's been heard most famously on the incredible track "Soul Bossa Nova" – an original by Quincy for the set, which has gone onto much greater fame through its use in the film Austin Powers, and a bazillion TV commercials! But the whole album's great too – and other tracks include "Serenata", "Lalo Bossa Nova", "Boogie Bossa Nova", and "Chega De Saudade". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer set from those magical 70s years when Quincy Jones was effortlessly blending jazz, soul, and contemporary R&B – all to come up with a genre that's almost completely his own! In the early 70s, Quincy Jones surrounded himself with some of the best young soul and jazz talent he could find, plus a few older pros – and the result was a great series of albums that spanned genres and created a whole new approach to modern R&B. This gem of an album was put together with a young Leon Ware and an older Ray Brown – and it features some killer mellow soul tracks that rank with Quincy's best work – with especially strong contributions from Ware, who'd yet to really shine on his own! Titles include the sublime version of "If I Ever Lose This Heaven", plus "Body Heat", "Soul Saga", "Everything Must Change", "One Track Mind", and "Along Came Betty". CD

A super-huge album from Quincy Jones – a record that's almost like Quincy's trying to show the whole younger generation that an older master like himself can still deliver the goods! The set was delivered right after Quincy helped out Michael Jackson on Off The Wall – and while it's got a few of the soulful touches of that set, it's also marked more deeply by the kind of work that Jones was turning out in the 70s – nicely focused with soulful vocals on most cuts, including some especially nice work from Patti Austin – a singer whose sophisticated style works perfectly for Quincy's groove. Titles include the killer "Ai No Corrida", plus "Razzamatazz", "Just Once", "Something Special", "Turn On The Action", "The Dude", "Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me", "Velas", and "One Hundred Ways". CD

A real step forward for Quincy Jones – a record that really shows the jazzman moving into sophisticated new territory – a sound that's just right for the CTI generation! The album's got a vibe that's a bit similar to Quincy's Walking In Space album, but it's a lot deeper too – touched with some of the African elements you might guess from the title – arranged in ways that are often quite spacious, so that the tunes really take some time to find just the right groove! Backings are large, but show the leaner elements that Jones was bringing to his soundtrack work – and instrumentation includes vibes from Milt Jackson, marimba from Don Elliott, flute from Hubert Laws, soprano sax from Jerome Richardson, trumpet from Freddie Hubbard, trombone from Al Grey, and guitar from Eric Gale. Keyboards figure strongly – played by Herbie Hancock and Bob James – and special features include a bit of guitar and whistling from Toots Thielemans, plus some soulful vocals from Valerie Simpson. "Gula Matari" is an incredible 12 minute tribal groove – and other titles include a killer take on Nat Adderley's "Hummin", plus "Walkin" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great, oft-overlooked album from the best period of Quincy Jones! This album is quite possibly Quincy's most farthest-reaching – as he works in an array of styles that really shows his growing genius in the studio – not just jazz and soundtrack modes, but more soul-based ones, handled with work from a great array of guest stars who really expand the sound. There's loads of nice bits – like a version of "My Cherie Amour", done with vocals by Leon Ware and Minnie Riperton; a new take on "Bluesette", redone with Toots Thielemans; and the original "Beautiful Black Girl", which features rapping by The Watts Prophets! Other tracks include "Paranoid", "Cry Baby", "Tryin To Find Out About You", and "Listen (What It Is)". LP, Vinyl record album

Despite the fact that this album's got an African-sounding name, and features a painting of Quincy in tribal garb, the album's actually a compilation of his 60's stuff for Mercury – which was not very Afro-funky, but which is still pretty darn groovy! The record's got his stunning cut "Soul Bossa Nova" (as used in Austin Powers!), plus lots of other groovy groovy stuff like "Jive Samba", "Lalo's Bossa Nova", "Rack 'em Up", "Harlem Drive", and "Gravy Waltz". Very nice stuff, and a great batch of material you can't find easily. LP, Vinyl record album

A victory lap for the great Quincy Jones – revisiting a bunch of his self penned classic tracks, some choice covers and new material featuring a who's who of indebted contemporary singers & rappers – including Talib Kweli, Mary J Blige, Amy Winehouse, Three 6 Mafia, Usher, John Legend and more. It's the opposite of a rehash – Q's classic grooves are reinvented with a contemporary feel with fresh rhymes and vocals on the best material, including a bold version of "Hikky Burr" (in which Three 6 Mafia & David Banner cast it as a post-Katrina anthem), plus "Ironside" with Talib Kweli, a cover of "Strawberry Letter 23" feat Akon, "Tomorrow" feat John Legend, "Get The Funk Outta My Face" feat Snoop Dogg, "Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me" with Mary J Blige, Q-Tip & Alfredo Rodriguez, "Everything Must Change" with Bebe Winans, "Sanford & Son" feat TI, BOB, Prince Charlez & Mohombi and more. CD

A very soulful set of big band material from Quincy Jones – recorded during that tight early 60s period when his arrangements just couldn't fail! The album's his only session for Impulse, and it's got a slightly deeper style than his work from the time for Mercury – a bit more sophisticated, with nice modern touches that take the tunes in surprising directions. Part of the greatness of the set lies in the players – as the album features work by Curtis Fuller, Thad Jones, Stu Martin, Freddie Hubbard, Patty Brown, Phil Woods, and Jerome Richardson – and titles include "Robot Portrait", "Hard Sock Dance", "The Twitch", and "For Lena & Lennie". LP, Vinyl record album

A great bit of 70s electric work from Quincy – and probably his funkiest album ever! Quincy's really stepping out here from the straighter and spacier styles of earlier records – going for more of the dirty grooves he was cutting up for soundtrack albums, and hitting notes that were a lot more fitting for the blacksploitation era. The record includes the massive funky track cut "Hikky-Burr", which was the theme to the first Bill Cosby Show, and which has a sinister groove, and some wild shouted lyrics! Also features two more great themes – "Ironside" and "The Anderson Tapes" – both of which have a cool electric sound to them, and the nice title cut, which actually features Quincy on vocals! Other tracks include "Cast Your Fate To The Wind", "What's Going On", "Brown Ballad" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The Dude at the height of his powers – serving up a smooth blend of soul and jazz that set the standard for an entire generation! As with some of his other 70s albums, Quincy's working here with a host of great talents that make the record sizzle – guests that include Hubert Laws, Herbie Hancock, Patti Austin, Luther Vandross, Gwen Guthrie, Eric Gale, and others – all of whom put their egos aside, and bring their best bits to the table working under Quincy's guidance! The album includes a great version of "Superwoman", plus the tracks "Tell Me A Bedtime Story", "Love Me By Name", and "Love, I Never Had it So Good". CD

A pivotal album not just in the career of Quincy Jones, but in the development of the CTI Records sound as well – as this all-star effort is a perfect blend of all the hippest currents that were cooking up in the scene at the time! At one level, the record has Quincy taking back some of the sophisticated currents he was developing in soundtrack work of the 60s, but moving back to jazz – more groove than before, and more of a sense of space and timing – which is carried off by an excellent lineup that features plenty of electric piano from Bob James, plus work from Hubert Laws on flute, Eric Gale on guitar, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, and Toots Thielemans on guitar and harmonica. There's also added soulful vocals at a few points too – more chorus than lyrics, at a level that hints at the jazz/soul crossovers that Quincy would do in the 70s – on a set of tracks that's completely sublime, with titles that include "Killer Joe", "Dead End", "Walking In Space", and "Love & Peace". CD

Sweet funky Q for the 70s – easily one of the coolest albums ever from Quincy Jones! The album's got a very heavy electric vibe – one that's kind of a laidback take on the styles that Jones was forging in some of his 70s soundtrack work – served up with massive work on the keyboards from Dave Grusin and Bob James, the latter of whom brings some of his own CTI vibe strongly into play! The basslines are great too – often dipping, stepping, and turning wonderfully – keeping things laidback and mellow, but always making for some sort of a groove, even on the slower tracks too. There's just a bit of vocals on the record – handled by Valerie Simpson on two tracks, and Quincy on another – but the main focus here is on the instrumentation, which is completely sublime. Titles include Quincy's great remake of "Summer In The City", an oft-sought sample track – plus versions of "Superstition", "Daydreaming", and "You've Got It Bad Girl" – and the great originals "Chump Change", "Love Theme From The Getaway", "Eyes Of Love", and "Sanford & Son Theme". LP, Vinyl record album

Stone funky work from the late 60s – a landmark batch of tracks by Quincy Jones – originally recorded for the soundtrack of the first Bill Cosby show, and issued here to the public for the first time ever! The show's famous theme "Hikky-Burr" is a well-known groover with a sinister snapping edge that sums up all the best of Quincy's funky jazz soundtrack work in the 60s – and the rest of the tracks on the set follow in a blend of California soul jazz modes that's mighty mighty nice! Players on the tunes include Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander, Joe Sample, Eddie Harris, Ray Brown, and Paul Humphrey – and the tracks have a loose, improvised feel that's a nice contrast from a lot of Quincy's tighter soundtrack work. Along with 2 different versions of "Hikky-Burr" (one with vocal by Cosby, one without), the set also features tracks that include "Toe Jam", "Jive Den", "Monty Is That You", and "Eubie Walkin" – plus a loosely disguised version of "Listen Here", and a take on "Oh Happy Day". Great stuff – and wonderful to finally have out on CD! CD

A rare groover from the team of Ray Brown and Quincy Jones – a smoking little set that completely revises the music for The Adventurers! The original score for the film featured tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim, played by Deodato – a great combination at the time, but completely different than the heavy funk laid out here by Ray and Quincy! The pair really cook things up strongly here – hitting some of the best funky vibes you'd hear on Quincy Jones scores from the late 60s and early 70s – or some of Ray Brown's funkiest jazz sessions of the time. Brown leads the band, and the set's produced by Quincy – who also arranged some tracks – with help from JJ Johnson, Tom Scott, and Jimmy Jones too. Titles include "Fat Cat Strut", "Polo Pony", "El Lobo's Marc", "Wishful Thinking", "Love Theme From The Adventurers", and "Go Down Dying". CD

Kind of a gimmicky session, but a great one nonetheless! It was Leonard Feather who first thought of rounding up all the "Jones" in jazz he could find, bringing them together for this unique date for the Period label – but fortunately, the quality of the work and strength of the players goes way past the goofy strategy of the date! The record's an especially great chance to hear Thad Jones in small group mode – blowing with that sweet, warm tone that we love in his Blue Note work, captured here in a slightly more informal setting. Also noteworthy is the piano of Jimmy Jones, the drums of Jo Jones, and the flugelhorn playing of Quincy Jones, who appears on 3 of the album's 9 tracks. Titles include "No Other Love", "The Jones Bash", "Jones Beach", "You've Changed", "Montego Bay", and "Salute To The Blue Bird". LP, Vinyl record album

Quincy Jones brings a nice smooth sound to the vocals of Ol' Blue Eyes! Titles include "If I Should Lose You", "Stormy Weather", "Mack The Knife", "LA Is My Lady", "Teach Me Tonight", and "After You've Gone". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer set from those magical 70s years when Quincy Jones was effortlessly blending jazz, soul, and contemporary R&B – all to come up with a genre that's almost completely his own! In the early 70s, Quincy Jones surrounded himself with some of the best young soul and jazz talent he could find, plus a few older pros – and the result was a great series of albums that spanned genres and created a whole new approach to modern R&B. This gem of an album was put together with a young Leon Ware and an older Ray Brown – and it features some killer mellow soul tracks that rank with Quincy's best work – with especially strong contributions from Ware, who'd yet to really shine on his own! Titles include the sublime version of "If I Ever Lose This Heaven", plus "Body Heat", "Soul Saga", "Everything Must Change", "One Track Mind", and "Along Came Betty". CD

Always-groovy big band work from Quincy – and even in a live setting at the mainstream Newport festival, he still sounds hipper than most of the cats of his generation! The lineup is great – with a group that includes Curtis Fuller and Melba Liston on trombones, and both Pat Patrick and Jerome Richardson on saxes – all playing with a host of other well-matched players, with the kind of seamless groove that Quincy brought to his other Mercury records at the time. Tracks are slightly longer and more open-ended than on Jones' studio sessions from the same period – and titles include "Meet BB", "Lester Leaps In", "G'Won Train", "Ghana", "Banja Luka", and "Evening In Paris". LP, Vinyl record album

Very groovy stuff from Quincy – a mix of jazz, soundtrack, and popular themes, all done in that soulful swinging style that Quincy virtually helped invent! The album's got plenty of great groovers that take a popular tune and kind of turn it on its ear – takes on tracks like "What's New Pussycat", "Non-Stop To Brazil", "The In Crowd", "Mack The Knife", "The Gentle Rain", and "Satisfaction" – all of which are souped-up by Quincy, and done in a rhythmic style that takes them past familiar versions you might know. The album also features the very groovy "Blues For Trumpet & Koto" – a slightly exotic number that we really like! CD

Quincy Jones was already making quite a name for himself overseas, even very early in his career – as you'll hear on these two different Swedish sessions recorded in 1953! Both of them feature the young arranger at the height of his early powers – really creating magic between all the players – letting the rhythm groove, and the soloists step out – but also making the whole thing gel together wonderfully with a soulful sense of color and tone. The first batch of tracks feature both Art Farmer and Clifford brown on trumpets – with Swedish players Ake Persson on trombone, Lars Gullin on baritone, and Bent Hallberg on piano – on "Stockholm Sweetnin", "Falling In Love With You", "Scuse These Bloos", and "Lover Come Back To Me". The last four tracks are with a similar group – but just with Farmer on trumpet, and Jimmy Cleveland with Ake Persson on trombone – on the titles "Pogo Stick", "Liza", "Jones' Bones", and "Sometimes I'm Happy". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic – and an important early album from Quincy Jones! Q's working here in some of his hippest settings of the 50s – scoring longish versions of jazz tunes for groups that include players like Lucky Thompson on tenor, Herbie Mann on flute, Art Farmer on trumpet, Phil Woods and Gene Quill on alto sax, Hank Jones on piano, and even Charles Mingus on bass! As with most Jones albums of the time, Quincy has a way of making a bigger group sound nice and lean – hitting some especially nice edges along with the rhythms, and really showing the way towards a new soulful sound for a bigger band. Titles include a sublime 10 minute version of "Walkin" that kicks off the album with a great soulful groove – plus original tunes "Evening In Paris", "Stockholm Sweetnin", and "Boo's Blues", as well as a version of Cannonball Adderley's "Sermonette". CD

Great early work by this swingin' French vocal group! These guys swung as hard as American jazz vocal groups, like Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross or The Hi Los – but they stuck to hipper, jazzier material, and had a driving sound that never let up! The group is led by singer Mimi Perrin, who also handed the arrangements – and it also features work by Eddy Louiss, Christiane Legrand, and vocalist Ward Swingle, in the years before he took off to form the Swingle Singers! This wonderfully remastered CD package features 19 tracks from their first two albums, plus one rare additional cut – titles include "Walkin", "Rat Race", "Meet Benny Bailey", "Fascination", "Boo's Blues", "Naima", "Boplicity", "Westwood Walk", and "Early Autumn". CD

An excellent album that's a perfect document of the strong impact that Quincy Jones had in the transatlantic jazz scene of the late 50s and early 60s. The set was recorded in 1960, and features two players that Quincy would leave behind in Europe to have a huge influence on the scene. Trumpeter Benny Bailey is the greatest of these – and his impact on jazz in Germany and Sweden during the 60s and 70s cannot be discounted. The other is drummer Joe Harris, who does excellent work here in a group that includes Arne Domnerus on sax, Ake Persson on trombone, and Gunnar Svensson on piano – all Swedes that Quincy picked up after touring the country heavily during the late 50s. The set grooves with the best of Jones' work on Mercury from the time – and although Quincy's not listed in the credits, it's probably only because of contractual reasons. Titles are all Jones originals – including "Meet Benny Bailey", "Plenty, Plenty Soul", "Fallen Feathers", and "The Midnight Sun Never Sets". CD

An excellent album that's a perfect document of the strong impact that Quincy Jones had in the transatlantic jazz scene of the late 50s and early 60s. The set was recorded in 1960, and features two players that Quincy would leave behind in Europe to have a huge influence on the scene. Trumpeter Benny Bailey is the greatest of these – and his impact on jazz in Germany and Sweden during the 60s and 70s cannot be discounted. The other is drummer Joe Harris, who does excellent work here in a group that includes Arne Domnerus on sax, Ake Persson on trombone, and Gunnar Svensson on piano – all Swedes that Quincy picked up after touring the country heavily during the late 50s. The set grooves with the best of Jones' work on Mercury from the time – and although Quincy's not listed in the credits, it's probably only because of contractual reasons. Titles are all Jones originals – including "Meet Benny Bailey", "Plenty, Plenty Soul", "Fallen Feathers", and "The Midnight Sun Never Sets". LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal modern jazz from Art Farmer and Gigi Gryce, with more than a little help from Quincy Jones! The two groups represented here are both medium sized, with Art joined by Jimmy Cleveland up front, and a variety of other sidemen including Cliff Solomon, Oscar Estell, Charlie Rouse and Danny Bank on saxes, and Quincy Jones, Horace Silver, Monk Montgomery, Percy Heath, Sonny Johnson and Arthur Taylor in the rhythm section. The music is a great balance of some of Gryce's academic tendencies set against very soulful hard bop performances. Tracks include "Work Of Art", "The Little Bandmaster", "Mau Mau", "Up In Quincy's Room", "Wildwood", "Evening In Paris", "Elephant Walk" and "Tiajuana". CD features the bonus track "When Your Lover Has Gone". CD

Hard swinging big band material from Sweden – featuring the big band of Harry Arnold arranged by Quincy Jones. Quincy had been spending a lot of time in Sweden during the mid 50s – bringing with him a host of great players that would soon become big names on the European scene. Biggest of these is Benny Bailey, who plays some good solos here with a mostly-Swedish group that includes Arne Domnerus, Bengt Hallberb, Ake Persson, and Bengt-Arne Wallin. The style of the work, and its trans-Atlantic jazz orientation, is a direct precursor of later work by the Clarke-Boland Big Band – of whom Bailey was a big part. Titles all swing nicely, and tracks include "Doodlin", "Room 608", "Quincy's Home Again", "Brief Encounter", and "Meet Benny Bailey". LP, Vinyl record album

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Great early work by this swingin' French vocal group! These guys swung as hard as American jazz vocal groups, like Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross or The Hi Los – but they stuck to hipper, jazzier material, and had a driving sound that never let up! The group is led by singer Mimi Perrin, who also handed the arrangements – and it also features work by Eddy Louiss, Christiane Legrand, and vocalist Ward Swingle, in the years before he took off to form the Swingle Singers! This wonderfully remastered CD package features 19 tracks from their first two albums, plus one rare additional cut – titles include "Walkin", "Rat Race", "Meet Benny Bailey", "Fascination", "Boo's Blues", "Naima", "Boplicity", "Westwood Walk", and "Early Autumn". CD

A dream of a collaboration – the great Nat King Cole in his prime, getting some mighty hip backings from the equally great Quincy Jones – who gives Nat a jazzy push that he wasn't always getting on his Capitol Records sessions of the time! The performance was recorded live in Paris on the same 1960 tour that has given us a few other rare Cole/Jones collaborations – but this one may well be the best of the bunch, as the fidelity is great – with an equal balance on Nat's wonderful vocal phrasing, and all the strongly soulful elements that Quincy brings to the band. Titles include "Tickle Toe", "Lester Leaps In", "Dance Ballerina Dance", "The Continental", "Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup", "Route 66", "It's Only A Paper Moon", "Joe Turner's Blues", "Welcome To The Club", "Blues In The Night", and "Thou Swell". CD

Sonny Stitt plus the early genius of Quincy Jones – a really great combination that makes for a standout session on Roost! As you might guess with Quincy handling the arrangements, the group here is bigger than usual for Stitt – especially given that the bulk of his Roost sessions were small group ones – but that aspect makes for a really strong record here, one that has Sonny's alto soaring out over the top of some hiply swinging Jones' charts, already infused with the kind of soul that would burst forth more famously in the 60s. Titles include a few nice originals, like "Quince" and "Sonny's Bunny", but even on the standards – like "Stardust", "Lover", and "Love Walked In" – Stitt's in top form, and solos with creativity and imagination that show him at the top of his talents! LP, Vinyl record album

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Really wicked stuff – and the greatest album from Sam Paglia to date! Sam's really honed his classic 60s organ sound to a "T" for this one – grooving in a manner that sounds a heck of a lot like famous soundtrack work by Quincy Jones or Lalo Schifrin (no surprise, he covers tracks by both in the set of mostly original tunes!) The grooves are nice and lean, with plenty of organ in the lead – and styles run from 60s mod to 70s funky, with lots of nice twists! Titles include "Bullitt", "Suspense", "Room 26", "Black Loop", "Organsm", "Introduction", "Return Of Lo Blanco", "BBQ", and "Sanford & Son". CD

Nicholas Payton shines in two different ways here – blowing trumpet, and handling piano and Fender Rhodes – often overdubbed, but with a unified sound that makes the album sound wonderful throughout! Part of the strength of the set is the rhythm backing – as Payton works with help from bassist Ron Carter, a player he'd always dreamed of recording with – alongside more regular drummer Karrie Riggins, who fits into the trio with a really magical sense of energy. Tenorist George Coleman joins the group on two tracks – partly as a nod to the Miles Davis album Four & More, which was some of the inspiration for the sound of this set – and titles include "Gold Dust Black Magic", "Q For Quincy Jones", "Big George", "Hangin In & Jivin", "Levin's Ope", "No Lonely Nights", "Big George", and "Lullaby For A Lamppost". CD

Completely unique work from Ben Sidran – a jazz record at the core, but one with a range of really wonderful styles in the mix! Sidran's working here with some key help from Mike Mainieri on vibes, Fender Rhodes, and co-production – and Mike's warm, round sound really brings a lot to the record – giving Ben's vocals a cool, laidback setting to really stretch out and find themselves! The album's a lot hipper than you might guess from the date – and has a unique mix of jazz and soul that's almost like some of Quincy Jones best work of the same period – but touched with that unique Sidran sense of charm. Most tracks are based on older jazzy compositions – work by John Coltrane, GG Gryce, Frank Rosolino, Thelonious Monk, and others – and titles include "Hi Fly", "Like Sonny", "Ask Me Now", "Give It To The Kids", "Seven Steps To Heaven", "Girl Talk", and "Blue Daniel". LP, Vinyl record album

A great take on the score to the hit show My Fair Lady – heard here in one of the best jazz interpretations from the time! Billy Taylor really gets a great setting for the music here – one that moves past the more familiar small group takes on the tunes, and features soaring large group backings arranged by a young Quincy Jones! Jones really knows how to keep things groovy, and free from cliche – allowing plenty of space for Taylor to step out in fluid solos in the frontline, but also featuring lots of great horn work from players that include Jimmy Cleveland on trombone, Don Elliott on Mellophone, Ernie Royal on trumpet, Gerry Mulligan on baritone sax, and Anthony Ortega on both alto and tenor! Titles include "Show Me", "Get Me To The Church On Time", "The Rain In Spain", "With A Little Bit Of Luck", and "On The Street Where You Live". LP, Vinyl record album

The Ebony Godfather cut this first album of funky flute right on the cusp of the 70's – and it's one of his best albums ever of funky flute-driven jazz! The album's got an excellent groovy flute/organ sound, underpinned by tight rhythm backing, and a 2-guitar section that includes Jimmy Ponder. The set features a great rendition of Quincy Jones' classic "Soul Bossa Nova", plus the group's hit version of "Comin' Home Baby", and some originals like "You Can Bet Your Sweet Bippy", "Monique", and "Big Heart, Giant Soul". LP, Vinyl record album

Arrangements by Quincy Jones – with titles that include "I Feel Pretty", "Sassy's Blues", "I Cried For You", "Lover Man", and "What Is This Thing Called Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Sarah Vaughan gets some great backings here from Quincy Jones – who brings a nice sort of punch to the record, and makes it one of her grooviest from the early 60s! The style's still somewhat traditional – not as much in moddish Jones modes from a few years later – but there's already that strong sense of syncopation that really sets Quincy's charts apart, the same sort of rhythms he brought to his Reprise arrangements for Frank Sinatra and Count Basie, although not as Basie-bombastic overall. Vaughan's vocals are still beautifully smooth in the setting, and titles include "I Could Write A Book", "Maria", "Baubles Bangles & Beads", "So Long", "You're Mine You", "Fly Me To The Moon", "Moonglow", and "Invitation". CD also features 2 bonus tracks – "One Mint Julep" and "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean". CD

Very nice box set that includes just about every one of Barry's big hits, plus some nice extra bonus – like his duet with Lista Stansfield on "All Around The World", the "Sweet Seduction Suite" with Quincy Jones, the 12" single version of "My Sweet Summer Suite", and even a newly-recorded introduction. There's also a 32 page booklet, with full discography, rare photos, musician credits, and lots more! 40 cuts in all – with titles like "Never Never Gonna Give You Up", "Sho' You Right", "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me", "Love's Theme", "Playing Your Game, Baby", and lots lots more! Cassette

Cellist Raphaela Gromes performs music by Hildegard von Bingen, Henry Purcell, Lili Boulanger, Mozart, Georges Bizet, Clara Schumann, Purcell, Quincy Jones, Fanny Hensel, Matilde Capuis, and more. CD

Music from Dizzy Gillespie, Chico Hamilton, Quincy Jones & His Orchestra, Oliver Nelson, Shirley Horn, Gabor Szabo, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Gato Barbieri, Keith Jarrett & more. CD

Tremendous work from trumpeter Benny Bailey – a musician who doesn't always get the chance to record as a leader, but one who always blows us away when he does! Benny in this setting is way different than in his work with bigger bands like the Clark/Boland Big Band, or the Quincy Jones orchestra – and instead, he has this way of stepping out strongly, with very individual phrasing – and crafting these really long, expressively soulful solos that he's never get to cut in a large group setting. The vibe here is very similar to Benny's wonderful album with tenorist Billy Mitchell – long tracks with a nice sense of bass at the bottom – and the group features Charlie Rouse on tenor, Sam Jones on bass, Richard Wyands on piano, and Billy Hart on drums. The whole thing's wonderful – and titles include "Reflectory", "Let Me Go", "Thelonious Assault", and "Who's Bossa Now". CD features two bonus alternate takes too! CD

The third great album in the trilogy that includes Off The Wall and Thriller – and a set that still has Michael Jackson running strong at the height of his solo powers! Quincy Jones is still at the helm, and Michael more than proves that he can still come up with a pop tune without going too far over the top – catchy, compelling numbers that played well all over the world of pop – but which still hang onto just a little part of his soul roots too! That balance is a key factor to the success of this set – a record that helped re-ignite interest in Jackson's music, and introduce him to a whole new generation – while still keeping most of the older fans plenty pleased too. Titles include "Just Good Friends", "Smooth Criminal", "Bad", "Another Part Of Me", "Man In The Mirror", and "Speed Demon". CD

Great stuff – and a key link between the early work of the Jackson 5 on Motown and Michael's later grooves with Quincy Jones! The Gamble/Huff team give the group a smooth sweet sound – definitely in a dancefloor mode, with some of the bassy riffs of Michael's Off The Wall album, but also with all the sweet catchy soul of earlier years – a really great blend that makes the album a great winner in the group's post-Motown years! The album includes the incredible smooth soul number "Show You The Way To Go", a killer cut that's very much in the Philly modern mode – and other tracks include "Style Of Life", "Enjoy Yourself", "Think Happy", "Blues Away", and "Living Together". LP, Vinyl record album

Billy Preston's first album on A&M Records – a surprisingly great home for his ever-evolving style! Billy give some big thanks in the notes to George Harrison, Bobby Womack, and Quincy Jones – all of whom he credits for bringing the album into being – although it's Quincy who really seems to do the most, given that he handled the string and horn arrangements for the set! Jones' touch is very apparent in the overall sound, as Preston's got a new sense of tightness for the record – a focus to his previous range of styles that really hits home hard, and which sets the tone for big successes to come. Titles include the nice funk instrumental "Outta Space", plus "I Wrote A Simple Song", "John Henry", "The Bus", "The Looner Tune", "You Done Got Older", and "Should've Known Better". LP, Vinyl record album