JazzNotJazz on Saturday 23 November at 12:00 CET looks back at the career of Quincy Jones.
Until the early 1970s, Quincy Jones built a name for himself in jazz music. As a musician, composer, arranger and producer. In the 1970s, a crossover to pop music became evident and was increasingly successful, culminating in the 1980s with Michael Jackson and We Are The World. Those are just a few examples. On his own albums in the 1970s he defined his own style. With clear roots in jazz, other genres were smoothly forged into new gold.
The albums from the 1970s contained pure jazz compositions interspersed with film and TV music, soul and pop hits. And always with the best musicians, the soloists in particular. Nowadays we might call it fusion.
The thirteen pieces in this hour are a selection of his work from the 1970s. Lots of variety. Compositions with dynamic chord progressions alternate with pieces that require only one chord/root note. The colour palette has been expanded with electronics, harmonica, strings, harp and vocalists – sometimes including Jones himself – who also sing without lyrics.
Not everyone will know the title Chump Change. But sports fans, listeners to the NOS Langs de Lijn radio programme, will be surprised with the complete song.
The jazz musicians in Jones’ orchestras were often very well-known. A selection.
Trumpet: Cat Anderson, Freddie Hubbard
Trombone: J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Jimmy Cleveland
Saxes: Pepper Adams, Roland Kirk, Phil Woods
Keyboards: George Duke, Herbie Hancock,
Guitar: Toots Thielemans
Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
Bass: Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Richard Davis
Drums: Grady Tate, Billy Cobham
Harmonica: Stevie Wonder, Toots Thielemans
The full playlist is in the Guide
JazzNotJazz – Jan Pieter Overmars
