Record of the Day: Quincy Jones, “Sounds…”
Quincy Jones
“Sounds… and Stuff Like That!” (Cd A&M CD3249)
After a career that took him over the course of forty years from playing trumpet with Dizzy Gillespie’s big band to being one of the most sought-after names in recording studios thanks to his skills as an arranger and composer, signing countless works in the jazz field, Quincy Jones turned his interests to the world of soul music, progressively transforming himself into a sort of Pygmalion/Svengali capable of turning everything that passes through his hands into gold.
In particular, his collaboration with Michael Jackson on “Off the Wall”, “Thriller” and “Bad” (three of the best-selling albums of all time), but also the countless productions he took care of for George Benson, Brothers Johnson, Donna Summer, Patti Austin, and the great charity event “We Are the World”, have consecrated him as the recording equivalent of Steven Spielberg (with whom he collaborated on the soundtrack of the film “E.
T.”).
Jones is not only an artist with a nose for the charts but also one of the eminences grise of the American music scene thanks to his deep knowledge of the jazz language (and not only, since he studied composition in Paris with Nadia Boulanger) and his innate good taste that makes him choose the best instrumentalists and arrangers of the moment to create a sound that is at the same time sophisticated and accessible.
He has released many quality solo albums including “Smackwater Jack”, “I heard That!” and “Body Heat”, but still unsurpassed is 1978’s “Sounds… and Stuff Like That!”, a true summation of all Jones’ qualities, which for the occasion brings together an unbelievable studio band with Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, Richard Tee, Anthony Jackson and Ralph McDonald, plus guests such as Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Ashford & Simpson, Gwen Guthrie, Bud Shank, Chuck Findley, in short, the best of the best.
The arrangements and production are perfect, immaculate and make even the original songs interesting (which apart from the formidable title track are not that great); but when Jones applies his orchestration skills to other people’s songs the magic really begins.
Hancock’s “Tell Me a Bedtime Story” has a velvety elegance, as does Stevie Wonder’s “Superwoman,” while Michael McDonald’s “Takin’ It to the Streets” has a mercurial vitality enhanced by high-energy gospel choirs.
Carlo Boccadoro, composer and conductor, was born in Macerata in 1963. He lives and works in Milan. He collaborates with soloists and orchestras in different parts of the world. He is the author of numerous books on musical subjects.
This text is taken from “Lunario della musica: Un disco per ogni giorno dell’anno” published by Einaudi, courtesy of the author and the publisher.
