Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones had three good reasons to cut this tribute record. First off, Henry Mancini was one of the most successful film composers of the 1960s. Second, Mancini's catchy themes often came from jazz, allowing Jones to let star soloists (Roland Kirk, Zoot Sims, Phil Woods and Toots Thielemans) loose on the material. And finally, Mancini befriended Jones when he was first breaking down the color barrier in Hollywood film studios. Highlights here include the haunting "Soldier in the Rain" and Kirk's crazy flute action on "The Pink Panther" and "Peter Gunn."