There have been few more talented, more versatile, and more successful musicians than the late great Quincy Jones (1933-2024.) His career included work as a producer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer; he was involved in show business in one capacity or another for six decades, and his work was by and large nothing short of magnificent.
Indeed a lot of Mr. Jones’ work people won’t even recognize as being his creation. His oeuvre not only spanned generations but genres; he did television themes and movie scores, he did pop music, R&B, and symphonies. He was a giant, and now, sadly, he’s gone – but his music remains. As a tribute, please enjoy six great works of the late great Quincy Jones.
Soul Bossa Nova: Many of the younger generations recognize this 1962 tune as the theme song from Mike Meyer’s “Austin Powers” trilogy, and it was a great choice for that; the upbeat, swinging tune set the stage for that tongue-in-cheek spy-adventure spoof. It’s a fun, bright, big-band piece.
Boogie Bossa Nova: From the same 1962 album “Big Band Bossa Nova” that had “Soul Bossa Nova,” this one is a little different; it’s a little more serious, a little harder hitting, with some great piano work and a low, drumming horn section that hums and wails. It’s almost subsonic in places; it’s a tune you feel as much as you hear, and if it doesn’t start your feet moving, there’s something wrong.
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Ironside Theme: Quincy Jones had a lot of work that was later adapted as a TV or movie theme, like “Soul Bossa Nova,” but he did a lot of work for television and movies directly as well – like this theme for the old 1967-1975 cop drama “Ironside,” starting the great Raymond Burr. It’s a perfect cop-drama theme; a jarring opening, staring almost with a shriek, a smooth middle, building to a crescendo.
Walking in Space: From his 1969 album of the same name, “Walking in Space” is another fun one; this song was not associated with any television or movie I’m aware of, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s almost haunting, with soft horns and smooth vocals evoking images of the vast, black reaches of space.
The Streetbeater: From the 1973 album “You've Got It Bad Girl” comes “The Streetbeater,” which those of us who remember the ‘70s will recognize as having been adapted as the opening theme song for the Redd Foxx sit-com “Sanford and Son.” It’s a fun song, lighter than a lot of Quincy’s earlier work, with a jazzy sound made all the better by the popping synthesizer work and the great horn section that Quincy always seemed to use.
Let the Good Times Roll (Stuttgart, 2017): There are few better demonstrations of what Quincy Jones could do with a big band than this live performance from Germany in 2017. This show featured George Benson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jacob Collier, the SWR Big Band and the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester. It’s a great performance, one of the very best. What talent and skill is on display here, not just from Quincy Jones but the great people he chose to work with!
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Quincy, we’ll miss you. Talents like yours come along only every now and then. You added a lot to the American movie scene; you made movies come alive with your soundtracks, you made TV pop with your themes, and you made us dance with your albums. We’ll miss you.
Have you any Quincy Jones favorites of your own, readers? As always, the comments are yours!
