AMG Review of 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Roy Ayers

Heather Phares
All Music Guide

20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Roy Ayers collects ten of the soul-jazz pioneer's definitive tracks, including "Don't Stop the Feeling," "Searchin'," "Everybody Loves the Sunshine," and "Running Away." Ayers' lush arrangements and funky rhythms still sound fresh today, particularly on "Coffy Is the Color" and "Love Will Bring Us Back Together"; while compilations such as Evolution: The Polydor Anthology and The Best of Roy Ayers: Love Fantasy dig deeper into his body of work, The Millennium Collection is a good introduction to Ayers' proto-acid jazz.