Genius + Soul = Jazz was one of the very best collaborations between Ray Charles and two of the most celebrated arrangers in jazz history, Quincy Jones and Ralph Burns. Charles’ performances on Jones’ various arrangements are particularly noteworthy. Charles is accompanied by two groups drawn from members of the Count Basie Band and from the ranks of top New York session players. Featured in the orchestra are such important jazz soloists as Clark Terry, Thad Jones, Urbie Green, Jimmy Cleveland, Budd Johnson, Frank Foster and Roy Haynes, among many others. Richie Unterberger gave the album a four-and-a-half-star rating in All Music Guide, writing that, “One of the best early-’60s examples of soul-jazz crossover, this record, like several of his dates from the period, featured big-band arrangements (played by the Count Basie band). This fared better than some of Charles’ similar outings, however, if only because it muted some of his straight pop aspirations in favor of some pretty mean and lean, cut-to-the-heart-of-the-matter B-3 Hammond organ licks.” Genius + Soul = Jazz was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011.

PERSONNEL:

RAY CHARLES, vocals & organ
A1-A3 & B2-B4: Clark Terry, Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Phil Guilbeau, Snooky Young (tp), Henry Coker, Urbie Green, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tb), Marshall Royal, Frank Wess (as), Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bar), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Sonny Payne (d).
New York, December 26, 1960.

A4-A5, B1 & B5: Clark Terry, Joe Wilder, John Frosk, Phil Guilbeau, Jimmy Nottingham (tp), Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Keg Johnson, George Matthews (tb), George Dorsey, Earl Warren (as), Budd Johnson, Seldon Powell (ts), Haywood Henry (bar), Sam Herman (g), Joe Benjamin (b), Roy Haynes (d).
New York, December 27, 1960.

Arrangements by
QUINCY JONES (on A1, A3, A5, B1 & B4)
RALPH BURNS (on A2, A4, B2, B3 & B5)

Bonus Track (B6): Ray Charles with the Quincy Jones Orchestra: Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt, Clark Terry,Ernie Royal, Joe Newman, Snooky Young (tp), Melba Liston, Al Grey, Quentin Jackson, Tom Mitchell (tb), Marshall Royal, Frank Wess (as), David “Fathead” Newman, Zoot Sims, Paul Gonsalves (ts), Bennie Crawford, Charlie Fowlkes (bar), Freddie Green (g), Edgar Willis, Eddie Jones (b),Teagle Fleming, Charlie Persip (d), Quincy Jones (cond, arr).
New York, June 23, 1959.

Original sessions produced by Ray Charles.

TRACKS:

SIDE A:
1 FROM THE HEART
2 I’VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU
3 MOANIN’
4 LET’S GO
5 ONE MINT JULEP

SIDE B:
1 I’M GONNA MOVE TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN
2 STOMPIN’ ROOM ONLY
3 MISTER C
4 STRIKE UP THE BAND
5 BIRTH OF THE BLUES
6 ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND