Paris and New York in One Take
Jones brings together musicians from two continents to show what swing sounds like when it crosses an ocean.
I Dig Dancers captures Quincy Jones early in his career, working with Mercury Records to document performances recorded across Paris and New York City. The album splits its attention between these two recording locations, and you can hear the difference — the Paris sessions have a looser, more exploratory feel, while the New York tracks sit tighter, more in line with what American jazz audiences expected at the time. Jones was still finding his voice as a bandleader here, and the album reflects that search without pretending to have all the answers.
What actually comes through the speakers is Jones working with players who could swing hard and stay flexible. The arrangements favor clarity over density; these aren't overcrowded dates. There's space in these recordings, room for individual voices to breathe. The mix of material ranges across standards and originals, and the pacing keeps things from feeling routine. AllMusic's three-star rating suggests solid work without knockout moments — an accurate read. This isn't the record where Jones demonstrates the sophistication he'd later bring to his production work or his bigger orchestral projects. That was still ahead of him.
I Dig Dancers works best as a stepping stone in Jones's development rather than a destination in itself. It shows a competent bandleader learning his craft in real time, which has its own appeal if you're willing to listen on those terms. The album doesn't overreach, and it doesn't embarrass itself. If you're tracking Jones's path from player to the towering figure he became, this records an important moment — the point where he was still very much inside the music rather than above it.
Who's playing
Buddy Catlettbass
Patti Bownpiano
Budd Johnsontenor saxophone
Porter Kilbertalto saxophone
Jerome Richardsontenor saxophone
Sahib Shihabbaritone saxophone
Phil Woodsalto saxophone
Joe Lopesalto saxophone
Oliver Nelsontenor saxophone
Benny Baileytrumpet
Lennie Johnsontrumpet
Floyd Standifertrumpet
Clark Terrytrumpet
Freddie Hubbardtrumpet
Jerry Kailtrumpet
Clyde Reasingertrumpet
Jimmy Clevelandtrombone
Quentin Jacksontrombone
Melba Listontrombone
Åke Perssontrombone
Wayne Andretrombone
Curtis Fullertrombone
Joe Harrisdrums
Stu Martindrums
Julius WatkinsFrench horn
Where next?
More by Quincy Jones
Big Band Bossa Nova 1962
Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux 1993
Back on the Block 1989
Walking in Space 1969
The musicians on this record
Open Sesame (The Rudy Van Gelder Edition) 1960
Freddie Hubbard
plays trumpet here
plays trumpet here
The Blues and the Abstract Truth 1961
Oliver Nelson
plays tenor saxophone here
plays tenor saxophone here
