Quincy Jones Sacd

This is a wonderful collection of great R&B music performed by the best singers and musicians in the business. Every song is produced to the exacting standards Quincy has become famous for in his long career.

This is a wonderful collection of great R&B music performed by the best singers and musicians in the business. Every song is produced to the exacting standards Quincy has become famous for in his long career.

Live at the Sands (Before Frank) is a live album by the pianist and bandleader Count Basie with performances recorded in Las Vegas in 1966 at the same concerts that produced Frank Sinatra's 1966 album "Sinatra at the Sands". The album is of the warm-up sets by Basie's band before Sinatra's performances. It was originally released on the Reprise label in 1998.

Coleman Hawkins recorded three sessions for Impulse Records in the early to mid '60s. Of the three, Today And Now is the most compelling. The unusual choice of repertoire is what sets this album apart. Versions of the traditional song "Go Li's Liza" and the fairly obscure Quincy Jones ballad "Quintessence" are creatively rendered. Indeed, Hawk seems inspired throughout; he plays with an abandon that is altogether effortless.

A die-hard bopper, alto saxophonist Phil Woods nonetheless manages to push the boundaries of straight-ahead hard bop on Souvenirs. As far as the '90s go, this is one of Woods' best. This version of Woods' quintet, most notably featuring trumpeter Brian Lynch, is a solid entity with much forward momentum. Lynch, a member of Art Blakey's last Jazz Messengers lineup, is easily one the best trumpeters around, displaying a knack for interesting note choices and lines that border on the progressive. Woods sounds thoroughly engaged throughout, attacking each tune with his characteristic fire.

For Ted Rosenthal's second release on Venus, he dedicated the whole album to Helen Merrill — the exceptional singer who he has accompanied for more than ten years — by performing standars that are closely associated with her. The album starts with "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", a track Merrill made her own on her album with Clifford Brown on trumpet and Quincy Jones as arranger. Rosenthal's smart arrangements and gorgeous, lyrical playing are complemented perfectly by George Mraz on bass and Al Foster on drums. The close interaction between the trio is astounding.

Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Lionel Hampton began his career playing drums for the Chicago Defender Newsboys' Band while still a teenager in Chicago. One of his trademarks as a drummer was his ability to do stunts with multiple pairs of sticks such as twirling and juggling without missing a beat. During this period he began practicing on the vibraphone. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich to Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and Quincy Jones. In 1992, he was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1996.

A talented altoist influenced by David Sanborn, Brandon Fields has the versatility to be able to play both R&B/crossover and hard bop. Fields grew up in Orange County, CA, and started playing alto when he was ten. A freelance musician since he was a teenager, Fields moved to Los Angeles in 1982 and has worked steadily ever since. He toured with George Benson in 1985, was a regular member of the Rippingtons, has long been a busy session player, and recorded CDs as a leader for Nova and Positive. This release is his Jazz tribute to Stewie Wonder.

Demonstrating a deep-seated flair for soul and R&B, Paul Simon recruited gospel backup singers and traveled to the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios to further refine the vibrant sounds he desired for There Goes Rhymin' Simon. Clearly, his instincts proved correct. Many rightly consider the iconic singer-songwriter's third album a masterpiece – one that, per critic Robert Christgau, "suggests a new grace and flexibility for the mass-pop mode, and invests small subjects and emotions with an almost luminous wit and awareness."

Harold Mabern is a hard bop, post-bop and soul jazz pianist and composer. He is described in The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings as "one of the great post-bop pianists". This album has been released on the Japanese VENUS label.