QUINCY JONES - THE CINEMA OF QUINCY JONES
A much-needed look at an overlooked side of the genius of
Quincy Jones – not his jazz work, not his productions for famous soul artists,
but instead his huge legacy of soundtrack material – a part of Q's career that
really took off in the 60s! By the time he started working in films, Jones had
already had a decade under his belt as one of the hippest arrangers, leaders,
and composers in jazz – and the film business really respected those talents,
and allowed Quincy to bring some really fresh styles into play – modes that
really opened up the vibe of American cinema, and also paved the way for the
funky styles of the 70s! As that decade approached, Jones left behind the
cinema to take on some more higher-profile records of his own – but all the
charms of those great albums can be found here at their roots – in this stunning
collection of soundtrack material, some of which has never been on CD. The
package is way more than just a sampler – and includes an album's worth of
material from the films The Pawnbroker, Slender Thread, Mirage, The Deadly
Affair, In The Heat Of The Night, In Cold Blood, Walk Don't Run, The Italian
Job, Lost Man, and John & Mary – plus two versions of the love theme from
The Getaway, and a bonus CD with 18 tracks – titled Q's highlights, and
featuring tracks from his Mercury records – plus more by Billy Preston, Arthur
Prysock, Bill Cosby, Shirley Horn, Letta Mbulu, Toots Thielemans, and others.
Even features the "Sanford & Son" and "Ironside"
themes! ~ Dusty Groove
ERIC ROBERSON – EARTH
Fantastic sounds from Eric Roberson – one of the best
contemporary soul singers of the past decade or two – and an artist who never
fails to blow us away with his music! This time around, Roberson is even more
positive and upbeat than ever – both in his lyrics, which have always had such
strength, and in the construction of his songs – which have this completely
captivating quality right from the start, and make us wonder, once again, why
Eric isn't one of the bigger soul stars around the globe! The album's only an
EP – with a total of 6 songs, one with Glenn Lewis – but it delivers a level of
satisfaction that blows away most of his mainstream contemporaries. Titles
include "Looking For", "Million Dollars", "Dreams
Don't Have Deadlines", "The Hospital Song", and
"Superman". ~ Dusty
Groove
CHRISTIAN SANDS - REACH
Christian Sands is a mighty warm piano player – a musician
who's clearly got a great reach and range on the keyboard, but always comes
across with a very personal, spontaneous sort of vibe! Sands could clearly
overstate his case if he wanted – but he's also one of those pianists who know
just how to hang back in the right way – letting the space around the notes do
just as much work as the notes themselves – in a beautifully-linked core trio
that includes Yasushi Nakamura on bass and Marcus Baylor on drums. Other
elements come into the music at times – tenor and bass clarinet from Marcus
Strickland, guitar from Gilad Hekselman, and percussion from Cristian Rivera –
but it's the core cohesion of the trio that really makes the record sparkle – a
fantastic setting for Sands' well-timed, well-chosen notes. Titles include
"Song Of The Rainbow People", "Armando's Song",
"Gangstalude", "Use Me", "Reaching For The Sun",
"Freefall", and "Oyeme". ~ Dusty Groove
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