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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Q" Stands For Quality On Classic Early 80s R&B/Jazz Set, November 17, 2000
Quincy Jones has spent much of the last 25 years hosting and recording some of music's most inclusive parties. Grammy-winning LPs like "Back On The Block" and "Q's Jook Joint" cast musical styles (rock, hip-hop, jazz, R&B, Latin) with narrative plot skill and personality depth reserved for the films Jones scored so well. Jones not only introduced many new stars (Tevin Campbell, Tamia) but stood behind some of music's touchstone moments, from Sinatra/Basie's legendary trilogy to Leslie Gore's "It's My Party" to Miles Davis embracing past successes and, of course, Michael Jackson's history-making "Off The Wall" and "Thriller" LPs and "We Are The World."Some Jones affairs got noisy and crowded ("The Secret Garden" on "Back On The Block" an example). But 1981's "The Dude" builds studio smooth, streamlined funk/jazz with Ferrari precision. The music builds around heart-pulse dance-R&B basslines (courtesy of Louis Johnson), scatting, riffing horns (especially on the electrifying "Ai No Corrida" and "Turn On The Action") and stinging rock guitar against jazzy vocals (from the superb Patti Austin and others). Here Jones laid the blueprint for "Thriller" and, by extension, much of 1980s pop and R&B. (Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Herbie Hancock perform here.) James Ingram, whose later ballad work played mushy and oversweet as butter-soaked movie popcorn, turns in graceful, understated performances on "Just Once" and "One Hundred Ways." Even then, their success showed what Ingram could do with producers (Jones, Thom Bell) building refined, Philly-style soul around his expressive voice. Jones made his best, most cohesive use of the players here, using them on nearly all his productions and eventually bringing them to his own label, Qwest Records. Despite tremendous successes to follow, "The Dude" remains a jewel in Jones' catalogue and essential to any 80s R&B or jazz collection. Fans are also recommended to check out 1975's "Body Heat" and the career-spanning 2CD set, "From Quincy With Love."
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Send Her Roses Just Because . . . If It's Violins She Loves . . . Let Them Play", January 19, 2005
This is one of the best-ever albums arranged and produced by Quincy Jones who is one of the most versatile artists in the jazz scene. He's been dubbed as a 'Renaissance Man' of American music. He's not only a great arranger/conductor but also a songwriter, soloist, bandleader, producer and record label executive.
This CD delights us with hits such as "One Hundred Ways" and "Just Once" (with James Ingram on vocals) and guest jazz artists and musicians, the likes of vocalists Patti Austin and James Ingram, percussionist Paulinho Da Costa and pianist Herbie Hancock, and the great Toots Thielemans showcasing his unique talent on harmonica, among many others.
James Ingram shines brightly as he sings my absolute all-time favorite "One Hundred Ways" from the heart - such a lovely song that speaks of the secret of romance in terms of roses, violins, moonlight and stars.
"Compliment what she does
Send her roses just because
If it's violins she loves
Let them play
Dedicate her favorite song...."
You should get this CD and you'll enjoy listening not only to this song but all the tracks as well. This song was written by Kathy Wakefield/Ben Wright/Tony Coleman and arranged by Quincy Jones and Johnny Mandel.
If you love mellow and captivating melodies, then this is just perfect - "Velas" written by Ivan Lins and Victor Martins and arranged by Mr. Q and Johnny Mandel. One of the finest jazz musicians, Toots Thielemans exquisitely plays the harmonica with his famous 'whistle'. If this melody will not totally move you, I don't know what will.
James Ingram's heartfelt performance on "Just Once" is one of the highlights. David Foster and Robbie Buchanan's acoustic piano accompaniments are simply awesome! The sprightly tracks are "Ai No Corrida" and "Razzamatazz" with vocals by a fine jazz diva, Patti Austin.
I've had this album since the early '80s when it first came out and the CD in the '90s, and to this day never fail to listen to it. One of Mr. Q's classics.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Kings & Queen of Qwest, February 27, 2001
Quincy Jones, James Ingram, and Patti Austin created something so mesmerizing and timeless that even after it's 20 year release the Dude remains as one of my favorite Qwest productions. They combined some of the most beautiful and captivating sounds of soul,pop-jazz, r&b of the time or decade with a slight edge of funk and early rap (title-track)...The enchanting harmonica-instrumental(courtesy of Stevie Wonder) Velas (which means "candles" in Spanish) with it's light and melodius whistling vocals is also a timeless gem ! The futuristic opening track Ai No Corrida (also Spanish for "No Way Out" or "No Other Path")is magically mysterious as it is soulfully seductive. Razzamatazz is the pinnacle dance jam on the entire disc with some of the smoothest vocals by Austin and enticing musical hooks by Jones. The rest of the flawless tracks,vocals and production have made this one of my all time favorite pop-jazz fusion albums by Jones, Austin, and Ingram !...I have yet to listen to another producer or group of artists that can top this project and collaboration from 20 years ago...
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