Mastercuts (2007)

About this title: A good reminder that Quincy Jones, at his best, was a jazz big-band leader, this CD compiles some well-known standards, commercial but not overtly pop tunes, and some modern arrangements that allow the leader/conductor a chance to stretch. Thankfully this is not an alleged greatest-hits package, but conversely contains no compositions he wrote. Fine and unique takes of "Watermelon Man," "Take Five," "Walk on the Wild Side," and "Back at the Chicken Shack" buoy the set. "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" is a bit empty, spacious, and breezy, but is offset by Mal Waldron's very creative "Abstractions ... read more

Tracks:

1. Watermelon Man [Hancock]
2. Take Five [Desmond]
3. Walk on the Wild Side [Bernstein/David]
4. Bossa Nova [Brubeck]
5. Stormy Weather [Arlen/Koehler]
6. Back at the Chicken Shack [Smith]
7. Abstractions [Waldron]
8. Osie's Oasis [Johnson]
9. Don't Bug Me, Hug Me [Perez/Kizer/Teuso]
10. Gerry Old Man [Traditional]
11. Ondine [Feather]
12. Exodus [Gold]
13. Gravy Waltz [Brown/Allen]
14. The Jones Rash [Unknown]
15. Cast Your Fate to the Wind [Guaraldi]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.