QUINCY JONES — The Great Wide World Of Quincy Jones (review)

QUINCY JONES — The Great Wide World Of Quincy Jones album cover Album · 1959 · Big Band Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
js
In 1959 Quincy Jones’ career was still young, but he had already established himself as the new leader in the world of big band jazz. “The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones” was approximately Jones’ fourth or fifth album (depending on who is counting) and has him featuring a sound that was becoming familiar by now. Oddly enough, Jones is only the conductor on here, but the arrangements by Al Cohn, Bill Potts, Ernie Wilkins and Ralph Burns sound very much like Jones with their bright bold sounds and shimmering optimistic energy. In the late 50s, the Quincy Jones sound was fast becoming the sound of commercials, movie, TV, Vegas and background music of any type, and his sound continued to be influential well into the 80s. These days, Quincy’s 60s sounds are often the sound of choice for those who seek retro-chic hipness.

There are so many good tunes on here, but some standouts include the high flying energy of “Air Mail Special” and the striking melancholy tune of “I Never has Seen Snow”. “Chant of the Weed” sounds like a typical theme for a early 60s sit-com, and a great example of how pervasive Quincy’s influence was/is. There are also plenty of good soloists including Phil Woods, Budd Johnson, Art Farmer and Lee Morgan. The only possible drawback is the revved up version of “Caravan”. It’s a song that’s covered too many times to begin with, and this overly charged up version pales in comparison to Ellington’s very odd and murkily exotic original. This is one tune where Jones’ extroverted sound just doesn’t seem like the right fit.

Fans of modern (post swing era) big bands will want to get this. Quincy Jones was really onto something when he first hit the scene, but unfortunately it did not last for ever, soon after this record and a couple more like it, he will leave big band jazz for the more lucrative world of pop and studio work.
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