Quincy Jones - Smackwater Jack

This is where a lot of serious jazz purists get off the train but for the rest of us, this is an exciting journey into Quincy Jones territory where labels are meaningless. Though Q takes us deep into Hollywood and TV with his themes to Ironside, The Anderson Tapes and the first Bill Cosby Show (with humorous vocals from the Cos' himself), his jazz base remains intact in these fascinating charts, and stellar friends like Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson, Toots Thielemans, and Jim Hall are left alone to shine.

The centerpiece, "Guitar Blues Odyssey: From Roots to Fruits" is the first of many attempts by Q to summarize musical evolution in one fell swoop. Moreover, this ambitious collage actually works – and it's great fun to hear Thielemans, Hall, Eric Gale and Joe Beck try to mimic guitarists from Robert Johnson to Wes Montgomery to Jimi Hendrix. One can't be quite as enthusiastic about Q's rather weak-kneed vocals on two tracks, but that's about the only stumble in this hugely enjoyable project. - AMG

Tracks:
1. Smackwater Jack (Gerry Goffin/Carole King) 3:22
2. Cast Your Fate to the Wind (Vince Guaraldi/Carl Rowe) 4:27
3. Ironside (Theme from Ironside) (Quincy Jones) 3:54
4. What's Going On? (Renaldo Benson/Al Cleveland/Marvin Gaye) 9:56
5. Theme From the Anderson Tapes (Quincy Jones) 5:16
6. Brown Ballad (Ray Brown) 4:21
7. Hikky-Burr (Theme from The Bill Cosby Show) (Bill Cosby/Quincy Jones) 4:04
8. Guitar Blues Odyssey: From Roots To Fruits (Quincy Jones) 6:44

Personnel:
Quincy Jones (Arrangement and Vocals)
Jerome Richardson (Soprano and Tenor Saxophone)
Hubert Laws (Flutes and Tenor Saxophone)
Peter Christlieb (Tenor Saxophone)
Ernest Royal (Trumpet and Flugelhorn)
Eugene Young (Trumpet and Flugelhorn)
Marvin Stamm (Trumpet and Flugelhorn)
Joe Newman (Trumpet and Flugelhorn)
Buddy Childers (Trumpet and Flugelhorn)
Freddie Hubbard (Trumpet and Flugelhorn)
Wayne Andre (Trombone)
Garnett Brown (Trombone)
Dick Hixon (Trombone)
Alan Raph (Trombone)
Tony Studd (Trombone)
Toots Thielemans (Harmonica and Guitar)
Eric Gayle (Guitar)
Jim Hall (Guitar)
Joe Beck (Guitar)
Arthur Adams (Guitar)
Freddie Robinson (Guitar)
Grady Tate (Drums)
Paul Humphries (Drums and Percussion)
Larry Bunker (Percussion)
George Devens (Percussion)
Bobby Scott (Piano)
Bob James (Fender Rhodes)
Jakie Byard (Fender Piano)
Monty Alexander (Tack Piano)
Joe Sample (Fender Piano)
Jimmy Smith (Organ)
Dick Hyman (Electric Harpsichord and Piano)
Paul Beaver (Synthesizer)
Edd Kalehoff (Synthesizer)
Ray Brown (Double Bass)
Chuck Rainey (Bass Guitar)
Bob Crenshaw (Double Bass)
Carole Kaye (Bass Guitar)
Milt Jackson (Vibes)
Harry Lookofsky (Violin)
Valerie Simpson (Vocals) - 4
Maretha Stewart (Vocals) - 4
Marilyn Jackson (Vocals) - 4
Barbara Massey (Vocals) - 4
Joshie Armstead (Vocals) - 4
Bill Cosby (Vocals) - 7

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