Ray Charles – Genius + Soul = Jazz (Vinyl)

Limited edition 180g vinyl – audiophile pressing, the complete album + 1 bonus track. One of the best examples of soul-jazz crossover from the early 1960s, this record features Ray Charles in the company of members of the Count Basie band, including such soloists as trumpeters Clark Terry, Thad Jones and Joe Newman. Most of the album is instrumental and swings vivaciously, although Charles does sing on ‘I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town’ and ‘I’ve Got News for You’. One of the instrumentals, ‘One Mint Julep’ would give Charles one of his most unexpected hits. Quincy Jones wrote half of the album’s arrangements, while Ralph Burns provided the other half. Ray Charles, vocal & organ Clark Terry, Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Phil Guilbeau, Snooky Young (tp), Henry Coker, Urbie Green, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tb), Marshal Royal, Frank Wess (as), Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bar), Freddie Green (g), Joe Wilder, John Frosk, Phil Guilbeau, Jimmy Nottingham (tp), Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Budd Johnson, Seldon Powell (ts), Haywood Henry (bar), Sam Herman (g), Joe Benjamin (b), Roy Haynes (d). Arrangements by Quincy Jones & Ralph Burns.Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, New York, 1960