Description
For this project recorded in 1959 at Fine Recording in New York City, Quincy Jones assembled a large, top-tier big band. 'The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones' comes at a time when Jones was establishing himself as arranger/conductor and shows he's a bandleader capable of bringing together great soloists in fresh arrangements. The tracks strengths are in how Quincy Jones uses the arrangements to create a distinctive voice: the album blends the energy and improvisational drive of bebop with the lush, layered textures and power of a large ensemble. A kind of polished professionalism balanced with adventurous soloists.
The album confirms that Quincy Jones had not just technical skill in arranging and bandleading, but real artistic maturity. Released in 1959, a momentous year for jazz in general - considering the seminal albums by Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman - 'The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones' fits perfectly into the evolution of modern jazz: swing, big band tradition, and bebop complement Jones's broad musical sensibility.
Featuring Art Farmer, Lee Morgan, Phil Woods, Sahib Shihab, Jimmy Cleveland and others.