Quincy Jones - Walking In Space (1977 Japanese A&M/CTI Vinyl LP)

Vinyl: VG+
Sleeve: EX
Obi: None

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Quincy Jones - Walking In Space Vinyl LP - 1977 Japanese A&M-CTI Jazz Series Reissue

Quincy Jones' ambitious 1969 big band album Walking In Space showcases his gifts as arranger, conductor, and orchestrator at a moment when jazz was embracing rock, soul, and contemporary pop influences. Recorded at Van Gelder Studios with Creed Taylor producing, this session features an all-star cast including Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Bob James on electric piano, Hubert Laws on flute, Roland Kirk on saxophone, and a full big band including trombonists J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding. The album's centrepieces are two arrangements from the rock musical "Hair" ("Walking In Space" and another track), demonstrating Jones' ability to transform contemporary pop material through sophisticated jazz orchestration and soloists' improvisations.

The ensemble represents a who's who of late 1960s jazz and studio musicians. Freddie Hubbard's brilliant trumpet solos soar over Jones' lush arrangements, while Bob James' electric piano adds contemporary texture alongside traditional big band instrumentation. The rhythm section features Chuck Rainey and Ray Brown on bass, with Bernard Purdie and Grady Tate on drums, creating grooves that bridge big band swing and contemporary soul-jazz. Vocalists including Valerie Simpson add occasional colour, while the horn section's precision execution of Jones' complex charts demonstrates why these musicians were first-call studio players.

This 1977 Japanese reissue, part of A&M's CTI Jazz Series and manufactured by King Record Co. Ltd., includes Japanese liner notes and offers this ambitious fusion of big band jazz, soul, and contemporary pop in a quality pressing for the Japanese market. Van Gelder's recording captures both the big band's power and the soloists' nuances, making this reissue valuable for collectors seeking Jones' peak period as jazz arranger before his even greater commercial success as a pop and R&B producer.