REISSUES : The Quincy Jones You May Not Know

QUINCY JONES “This Is How

I Feel About Jazz”

Impulse! * * * *

Composer-arranger Jones, who has gone on to become a recording industry tycoon, was a mere 23 years old when he led the various groups featured on this 1956 recording date. The collective personnel is staggering--Phil Woods, Lucky Thompson, Zoot Sims, Milt Jackson, Hank Jones, Billy Taylor, Charles Mingus, Benny Carter, Art Pepper, Pepper Adams, Buddy Collette, Art Farmer, Shelly Manne, Lou Levy, Herbie Mann and others.

The first six cuts are five-star material. Jones’ own “Stockholm Sweetnin’ ” and his arrangement of “Sleepin’ Bee” are masterpieces; Jones’ unique textural blends are intermingled with admirable solos. Scarcely less fascinating are the two blues “Walkin’ ” and “Boo’s Blues,” Cannonball Adderley’s “Sermonette” and another Jones original, “Evening in Paris.”

The remainder of this disc falls down and reduces the rating. Two sessions done in Los Angeles--the others were completed in New York--feature only saxes and rhythm, with arrangements by other writers who lack the magic Jones touch.

Yet this collection is an essential addition to a jazz library for anyone who would care to learn how Jones felt about jazz back in 1956. Too bad he has no time to feel that way today.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent). A rating of five stars is reserved for classic reissues or retrospectives.