QUINCY JONES - Take Five

Quincy Jones And His Orchestra

Plays Hip Hits 

Take Five

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

By 1963, Quincy Jones' music was at a crossroads. Still jazz-oriented, Jones' work with a studio big band was clearly aimed at trying to sell records rather than play creative jazz. On this LP, Jones leads an orchestra through a dozen then-recent jazz "hits," including "Comin' Home Baby," "Exodus," "Cast Your Fate to the Wind," "Take Five" and "Watermelon Man." There are some fine short solos by the likes of trumpeter Joe Newman, guitarist Jim Hall, Zoot Sims on tenor, altoist Phil Woods and (on "A Taste of Honey") even Rahsaan Roland Kirk. However, the performances all clock in around three minutes, and the jazz players take solos that often only count as cameos. Pleasant but not particularly substantial music.

Quincy Jones And His Orchestra : Joe Newman, Clark Terry, Ernie Royal, Snooky Young, Jimmy Nottingham, Al Derisi (tp) Billy Byers, Paul Faulise, Jimmy Cleveland, Quentin Jackson, Kai Winding, Tom Mitchell, Santo Russo, Melba Liston (tb) Julius Watkins, Jimmy Buffington, Ray Alonge, Bob Northern, Earl Chapin, Paul Ingraham, Fred Klein, Willie Ruff (fhr) Bill Stanley, Jay McAllister (tu) Phil Woods, Zoot Sims, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, James Moody, Walt Levinsky, Frank Wess, Al Cohn, Romeo Penque, Budd Johnson, Seldon Powell, Jerome Richardson (reeds) Lalo Schifrin, Bobby Scott, Patti Bown (p,org) Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall, Wayne Wright, Sam Herman (g) Milt Hinton, Art Davis, George Duvivier, Ben Tucker, Major Holley, Chris White (b) Rudy Collins, Osie Johnson, Ed Shaughnessy (d) Charlie McCoy (hca,tymp) James Johnson, Carlos "Bala" Gomez, Jack Del Rio, Jose Paula, Bill Costa, George Devens (perc) Quincy Jones (arr,cond) coll. pers.