ProJazz.net

“”Labor of love” is the inevitable phrase to describe this album on which composer/conductor/arrangers Quincy Jones and Sammy Nestico, both of whom wrote for Count Basie and His Orchestra, assemble a top-flight big band to perform some of their vintage charts. Despite the use of the bandleader’s name in the title and the pictures of him with the two principals on the front and back of the album, the music is more “beyond” than “Basie.” It is true that both Jones and Nestico are steeped in the Basie band’s light, rhythmic approach to playing and their music is imbued with that style.”- William Ruhlmann/AllMusic.

Track listing:

1 Ya Gotta Try…Harder! 5:39
2 Belly Roll 5:15
3 Grace
Orchestrated By [Introduction] – Mervyn Warren
5:19
4 The Joy Of Cookin’ 6:21
5 Quintessence 4:47
6 How Sweet It Is 7:21
7 Hard Sock Dance 4:21
8 The Witching Hour 5:16
9 For Lena And Lennie 4:19
10 No Time Like The Present 5:30
11 Lisette 4:09
12 Out Of The Night 5:51

Personnel:

Conductor, Arranged By – Quincy Jones, Sammy Nestico
Double Bass – Chuck Berghofer (tracks: 1, 6 to 10)
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Drums [Additional] – Harold Jones (tracks: 6, 10)
Electric Bass – Jimmy Johnson (5) (tracks: 4, 5), Neil Stubenhaus (tracks: 2, 3, 11, 12)
Electric Guitar – Paul Jackson, Jr.*
Electric Piano – Greg Phillinganes
Flute – Hubert Laws (tracks: 1, 6, 12)
French Horn – Brad Warnaar, Greg Williams*, Jerry Folsom
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Percussion [Additional] – Paulinho Da Costa (tracks: 3, 12)
Photography By [Back] – Ken Kim
Photography By [Cover] – Carol Friedman
Photography By [Inside] – Vince Tanzilli/Isis Films
Piano – Randy Kerber
Saxophone, Woodwind – Dan Higgins, Ernie Watts, Gary Foster, Gerald Albright, Jack Nimitz, Pete Christlieb
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Kirk Whalum (tracks: 3, 4, 10)
Trombone – Bill Reichenbach (2), Bill Watrous, Charlie Loper*, George Bohannon*, Reggie Young (2)
Trumpet – Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Oscar Brashear, Rick Baptist, Warren Luening, Wayne Bergeron
Tuba – Tommy Johnson*
Vibraphone [Vibes], Percussion – Emil Richards

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Label: Qwest Records – 9362-47792-2, Warner Bros. Records – 9362-47792-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: Germany
Released: 2000