Quincy Jones (b. 1943)
The delicious thing about the music of Quincy Jones for me is the way he bridges the rigour of so-called ‘classical’ art music, with jazz and soul. His music for Peter Yates’s film The Hot Rock (1972) is inspired in the way he incorporates his ‘simple melody’ and (sorry to talk shop): ‘dominant prolongation’. Hear also his music for The Deadly Affair (1966) and The Anderson Tapes (1971). Very clever. Hear also: They Call Me Mr Tibbs (1970).
Musically intellectual games bring depth to his work. I also love his theme for Ironside (1967) which, Geoff Love made an effective arrangement of.
As someone who studied classically in Paris with Nadia Boulanger; the arranger and producer of Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall (1979) and Thriller (1982) albums, Quincy Jones has had a strong influence on my work in the way he is not afraid to mix disciplines (composing, arranging, conducting and producing). Check out the song Streetwalker on the Special Edition of the album Bad (1987). Funk-y! Jones’s autobiography: Q, is worth reading.
To Quincy’s left, the skilled and generous sound engineer: Bruce Swedien
(Bruce Swedien has also written books on studiocraft in which he shares all he knows.)