I understand that Quincy Jones played a crucial role in the evolution of music, connecting legends like Count Basie with icons such as Michael Jackson and Snoop Dogg. He was truly ahead of his time and was involved in groundbreaking projects including "Thriller" and "We Are the World." 22 girlfriends . But since He passed away on Sunday at the age of 91. I've been captivated by one clip It's what you keep revisiting during times of immense sorrow and share with your children and spouse, urging them, "Take a look," because it encapsulates everything. Yet, it boils down to merely one song.
Since for me, that track perfectly illustrates how Q—who wasn’t one to avoid boastful interview antics—would cling to his ego whenever it served the artistry. With him, less truly was more. Here we see Quincy as the producer par excellence. He’s the opposite of those overbearing studio tyrants like Phil Spector brandishing guns. Instead, he made significant choices with minimal fuss, much like the finest producers such as George Martin and Rick Rubin do. In this instance, Jones transformed an ordinary tune into something unforgettable.
The song is "Fly Me to the Moon," which features the same arrangement as the iconic collaboration between Frank Sinatra and Count Basie in their album "Sinatra at the Sands" from 1966. I only came across this video clip after Quincy Jones passed away. In it, we see Frank Sinatra dressed formally during a performance for a charity event in St. Louis in 1965, accompanied by Basie on piano and Jones leading the orchestra. Although you get a brief look at Jones, he appears with his back toward the camera.
Starting from note one, it stands out uniquely. Frank delivers his lines smoothly, aligning them with the rhythm—rhythm attributed to Jones. He introduces a flute, an unexpected and bold move—I must admit, I generally dislike jazz flute—but here, it harmonizes beautifully with the saxophone. The sheer delight Sinatra exudes during this performance is evident as he strides confidently into the second verse, reminiscent of Pete Townshend energetically strumming the F chord in "Baba O'Riley."
If you want proof of Q's impact, simply look at any of the roughly 100 prior versions of this track, beginning with the initial version titled "In Other Words." recorded by Kaye Ballard In 1954, it's as level as can be, a dance more rigid than Nixon at the shore in dress shoes.
So how did Jones turn a harmless pop song into a killer? Simple. He shifted the time signature from the ³⁄₄ waltz into ⁴⁄₄. That’s it. Oh, he slowed the tempo, created the orchestration and let it swing. But the rhythmic shift is the move. It’s also the ego-is-not-my-amigo thing. Jones forgets himself and thinks of his artists. He has studied them and understands what makes them tick. Take Basie. Jones got his start arranging the great bandleader’s work in the ’50s and committed to Basie’s genius of economy. As Jones said in an interview printed on the back of the 1964 album “It Might as Well Be Swing,” which he produced: “During one of the tunes, Frank said, ‘Give me the pitch, Basie.’ And Basie hit one staccato note — ‘splank’ — and it was all there. It’s not only economy; it’s authority. When Basie plays, there’s no wasted motion just as there are not wasted notes.”
What about Sinatra? Jones acquired Frank similarly to how he would later obtain Jackson.
Jones stated in the same interview, "He can extend his reach even within a fixed rhythmic pattern. The melody isn’t limiting him as originally composed; instead, he alters it so that it seamlessly integrates with whatever is happening behind him. To encapsulate Frank’s essence in words, I would say he ensures that every element functions cohesively. Everything aligns perfectly, which is precisely how things transpired during those recording sessions."
Jones might have been described as someone who stood out due to his vibrant persona and irreplaceability. However, beyond this, he excelled as an artist. Just like he admired his idol Basie, Jones understood precisely what each piece required. Furthermore, he possessed the skill set necessary to execute those requirements flawlessly.
Post a Comment