1956 · Album
This Is How I Feel About Jazz
Recorded 1956–1957 · ABC-Paramount · Produced by Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones Announces Himself, Loudly
A 24-year-old arranger tells you exactly where he stands, and he's right.
By 1957, Quincy Jones had already made a name for himself as an arranger and sideman, but This Is How I Feel About Jazz (1957) was the record where he stepped out front and said — this is mine. It was his first proper full-length as a leader, following a split album from 1955, and the difference in confidence is obvious from the first track. Jones brought in serious players for these sessions, and the charts are dense without being cluttered. This is big band writing that swings without turning into a showroom spectacle. There's a directness to it that a lot of arrangers at that stage in their career hadn't figured out yet.
What makes the album interesting is that Jones isn't trying to hide behind the ensemble. The arrangements are the statement. You can hear him working out ideas he'd spend the next decade refining — how to give soloists room while keeping the whole thing moving, how to make a brass section hit hard without sounding like a wall of noise. Players like Art Farmer and Charles Mingus show up, which tells you something about the company Jones was keeping and the level he was aiming for.
This isn't a perfect record. Some of it feels like a young writer proving he can do everything at once, because he can. But that energy is part of what makes it worth hearing. It's a snapshot of someone genuinely talented figuring out how to turn technique into a point of view. If you want to understand how Jones got from sideman to one of the most in-demand figures in American music, this is where you start listening.
Who's playing
Paul Chambersbass
Charles Mingusbass
Hank Jonespiano
Billy Taylorpiano
Bunny Bardachtenor saxophone
Jack Nimitzbaritone saxophone
Lucky Thompsontenor saxophone
Phil Woodsalto saxophone
Gene Quillalto saxophone
Zoot Simstenor saxophone
Art Farmertrumpet
Bernie Glowtrumpet
Ernie Royaltrumpet
Joe Wildertrumpet
Jimmy Clevelandtrombone
Urbie Greentrombone
Frank Rehaktrombone
Charlie Persipdrums
Milt Jacksonvibraphone
Jerome Richardsonwoodwind
Herbie Mannwoodwind
Father John Crawleyhandclaps
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
♫
Django 1959
Milt Jackson
plays vibraphone here
plays vibraphone here
Mingus Ah Um 1959
Charles Mingus
plays bass here
plays bass here
Jazz Alive! A Night At The Half Note (Live) 1959
Zoot Sims
plays tenor saxophone here
plays tenor saxophone here
When Farmer Met Gryce 1955
Art Farmer
plays trumpet here
plays trumpet here
