Quincy Jones Interview

I totally agree with Quincy's assessments. He was there.  The music industry is/was very corrupted and many terrible singers and musician were popular not because of their talent.

The Beatles were not very good musicians.  That is a fact.  You know when you are in the studio with musicians and they can't play a lick without backup musicians and help of Engineers.  Singers that can't sing live also fall in this category.

This, like professional sports is about putting butts in the seats and getting fans and making money.

Jazz was absolutely not like that.  The best didn't make anything and were quite often ripped off by club owner and producers.

The problem with the younger generations in my opinion is that the don't believe or actually listen to the older people that "WERE THERE".

The bad things that Quincy Jones talks about actually happened.  What's the difference between Elvis and Chuck Berry?  Chuck Berry started it all.  Elvis stole most of the music and style. Don't get me wrong, he did great.  But Chuck Berry was black and Elvis was white.  Simple as that.

Real world hard assessments and real history and not whitewashed history is what we really need. 

Some of my best and favorite albums and music were produced by Quincy Jones.  If you look at his older stuff, he had the absolute best music, musicians and singers on each album.  Artist would trip over themselves trying to get on his albums. 

1.  In the Heat of the Night, with Ray Charles with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman????  

2.  Gula Matari (Freddie Hubbard and Hubert Laws), Valerie Simpson, Herbie Hancock, Bob James???????, Eric Gale, Toots Thielemans, Ron Carter, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson and many more.  Come on now!!!!

3.  Sounds (my favorite).l  Simple love tell me a bedtime story, and superwoman song by Patti Austin.  This album had Tom Scott, Herbie Hancock, Eric Gale, George Young, Nick Ashford, Chaka Khan, Valerie Simpson, Michael Breaker.  Oh boy and many more. 

4.  You got it bad Girl.  Summer in the City.  Dave Grusin and Valerie Simpson.  First Time I saw your face.  Absolutely wonderful. Valerie Simpson was wonderful.  Aretha Franklin on Daydreaming. 

5. Body Heat.  Listen to Everything must Change on that Album. That was Bernard Ighner baby.  The best music and version out there.  You can't help but tear up when you hear that version.  Wow..

6.  The Dude

7.  Roots

8.  I heard that.

Most of this was Jazz so it didn't get to the general public.  But this was real music.

I agree with him. Most musicians and singers today don't have a musical background.  most singers can't hold a note and fluctuate so often to cover up their inability to hold a note.

A long time ago, I took my very young daughter (who is a ballet dancer) to a Roberta Flack concert (when she still had her voice), just to show her what a real singer sounds like.  My daughter was so impressed to hear someone that could really sing.  she thought she did before, but now knew different. 

popular music today is about making money, not about making real music. 

Check out some of the songs and albums I listed.  read the who's who list of artist on each album. Amazing. 

Thanks and enjoy

Sorry, I have to disagree humbly.  It is well documented that the beetles weren't very good musicians.  However, set that aside for a minute.  When you put excellent musicians that spent their life in classical or other music training in the same room with a bunch of people that didn't have such training, many times (not always), there will be a marked difference in skill sets.

That is what Quincy Jones is talking about.  It was probably a little anger over how really great jazz musicians weren't appreciated by the general public.  Mostly because, (yes I have to go there), it was considered Black music or Devil's music.  It was not mainstream and was not accepted by the younger people as much.

So, you see these less talented young people getting paid!!!! and the public going crazy (not all the public liked the beetles by-the-way).  The best musicians on the planet (Jazz and blues artist) weren't even noticed for various reasons.  some I mentioned earlier. and yes, that would be a sore spot for someone like Quincy.

Look at Miles Davis. When exactly did he really start to make real money?  Not accounting for horrible companies, managers, and payola.  It was probably around bitches Brew.  When He went more mainstream with fusion and other avenues.  Not pure jazz.  Couldn't make real money that way.

Younger people tend to not want to hear what older people (that were there and experienced it all) have to say.  they choose to believe what they want to believe instead of appreciating what the ones that were in the mix of it all saw, experienced and heard.

I remember some of the parties with the "beautiful people".  entertainers, athletes, wannabies, etc.  bowls of drugs on tables for anyone that wanted.  people slept with almost whomever they wanted.  it was really wild and crazy.  not in a good way. 

If you wanted to advance, you slept with people, you took drugs just to be part of the in-crowd.

I watched and learned, and didn't participate, but realized that once the door was opened to certain things, it was really hard for people to close it. 

Quincy Jones is one of the few remaining people that has been there and done that and bought the tee shirt. 

Again, if you can, go look at his albums when he was the producer.  See the names of the artist that clamored to be on each and every one of his albums.

Sinatra asked Quincy to produce him.  Sinatra!!!! man oh man.

Michael Jackson!!!!

So yeah, when he talks I would listen.  He didn't sound addled.  He sounded like he finally didn't care who's toes he stepped on. 

People put items and groups on pedestals.  The Beetles????  yes, I appreciate their music.  But great musicians??? no way. 

Because he was Black, James Brown had to agree to open for the new group the Rolling Stones.  James Brown opened for them when he was most popular.  That was only because he was black.  However, read the interview about the Rolling Stones.  They said that he naturally killed and they had to follow an impossible act.  They learned his style and used it.

It is what it is. 

so yes, I read a little anger and resentment in his interview. 

People are saying "why is he saying this now instead of earlier"  Well he did in some ways, I remember other interviews, but, also why are women coming forward now about sexual assaults that happened years ago?  Because they feel it is time and now the repercussions may not be as bad.  and maybe they feel it is time to get some things off their chest.  maybe.

Also, the interviewer asked him pointed questions.  He probably figured, what the hell, what do I have to lose?

When it comes to Jazz and Blues players I was talking about back then.  I was not referring to the ones today. not taking away from anyone today, but that is not what I was talking about.  And in my opinion and many others, yes, they were the best.

Sorry about the misspelling of Beatles.

However, most rock musicians back in the day learned from the best Jazz and Blues players.  That is a known fact. and couldn't hold a candle to them back then.

I recently saw a documentary of rock musician side men (forgot the name) on Netflix I believe.  it was fantastic.  Those people could really play.  So yeah there are first rate musicians in every category.  has to be.  But, popular music is mostly bells and whistles and not skill.  not to say there aren't many that can really rock.

Also, to "develop" into a fine bass player is one thing.  But when you are sitting in a room with some of the very best and you are developing.  Well, again, that is what Quincy was talking about.  I don't disparage them their popularity and fame.  More power to them.

They had to learn their craft.  Sooner or later they had to play in front of people that know what they were hearing and seeing. So yeah, they did learn. 

And I do agree with you about the issue of race.  certain people can't or wont deal with it.  The believe what they want to believe instead of facts and see what they choose to see only.  it is sad and scary even now. 

But I'll stand by Quincy's assessments.  I've seen and heard similar.

Don't get me wrong.  I like and appreciate the Rolling Stones.  I can't believe they are still playing.

But to demand that James Brown who always (at that time) had sold out venues open for a newbie band most hadn't yet hear of was insulting. 

And yes, I can believe that at one time Jimmy Hendrix was "afraid" to play with those artist.  yeah, I can see that, at one time.  Doesn't mean he wasn't very good, but afraid, okay, i can see that.

This wasn't like when Prince was on stage with Clapton and many other established guitarist.  he blew them off the stage and showed the world that he was one of the best guitarist period.  his superbowl half time performance is still too me the best haft time performance. In a heavy rain, he didn't miss a step or beat and was outstanding.

I remember Ashford and Simpson (great song writers by-the-way).  I just didn't appreciate how good she really was until I hear her highlighted on Quincy's albums.  Wow.  what a voice.

enjoy

frogman;  I appreciate and welcome your input and response. I'm not saying that they were the worst musicians in the world.  I think If I picked up a guitar, that would probably be me.  violin on the other hand was a different story.  We are not talking about their music at all.  Leonard Bernstein was correct.  I'm talking about the playing talent.  especially at the time that Quincy is talking about.  They just weren't that good. 

I think we can agree to disagree on this one and notice that you and I aren't going back and forth insulting each other.  I don't understand why people do that here.

To me, when they got away from the pop music and screaming fans, their music became much better.  I think that is what also broke them up.  Musical differences, style and taste.

John wanted more esoteric style. I think they grew apart style wise. But that is another story.  I don't think it was a money issue or an issue of who should be the highlighter as with other bands.  Rufus and Chaka Khan for example.  Rufus was the music and the writing.  Both were diminished when they split.

I have no idea why Cream broke up.  Eric wanted to go solo maybe?

Anyway, some people take Quincy's interview as the ranting of a disgruntled old guy.  I don't see it that way at all. exaggeration?  maybe a little.  but I think he was right about much of what he said.

I imagine the scenario was that some outstanding musicians were in the room and heard them play with them and they looked at each other and said, "who are these guys?  they really can't play well".  Again, I was not in the room, but guess what?  he was, and he was around some real talent back in the day. Not saying the Beatles weren't.  I'm talking about Miles, Coletrane, Rollins, Sinatra, etc. 

So, I think there was a serious culture clash and a little anger over the discrepancy of funds. 

Makes me wonder, if Jazz and Blues went away and we were left with only Rock, head bangers, etc. would mainstreamers miss it?

Sorry for the long post.  A short story.  When my Daughter was growing up as a child and teenager, she was into the music of her age.  The funny thing was that when she went to College, she and her friends got into Jazz and albums also.  amazing. 

Anyway, I think the interview was very good and revealing.  Yes he is older and probably annoyed at some of the success of other styles versus the ridiculous circumstances they had to go through back in the day, but that does not mean he is wrong or lying.

Anyway, my take.  I respect your opinion.

enjoy  

I agree with many of the posts here.  I was absolutely not trying to disparage the music of the Beatles.  Far from it.. 

However, I was commenting on Quincy's comments and I totally agreed with his assessment of the Beatle's skill playing (back then during that time).  They of course got better and their song writing (when they did it), was pretty good. 

But to call me a snob???!!!!!  Ha, that's really funny.  Nothing but music from all cultures in my house when I was growing up and even  today. We appreciated all good music.  Classical (I was first chair violinist), rock, blues, Jazz, R&B, Brazillian, etc. you name it. 

my definition of a snob is someone that tells you what you like.

Several Beatles songs I like.  many  I don't, but I wasn't talking about their music or songs.  But, as usual, it is my opinion based on what I know, heard, saw, experienced.  no need to call me names.

Sorry if I stepped on toes, just like Quincy did.  one can choose to believe him or not.  your choice. My family is based on listening to the elders speak and their experience.  I've heard a lot of really unbelievable things in my day that were said and done and yes, most were true.  I've also seen a lot that most won't believe. 

most people (going far off base) didn't believe that LAPD planted evidence until the OJ case (yes, he still did it, in my opinion).  But people in my community knew about that type of thing long before that case came to light.  How many people stood up arguing against something like that ever happening?  The LAPD??? no way.  We it did and does.  It actually happened to me.  Cops planted drugs in my car after I made the mistake of turning left on a green light while a cop was following me.  this was in the 1980s.  I never smoked, took drugs, etc.  I was the poster  boy for goodie two shoes.  Athlete in college and just picked up a brand new car from the dealer taking it home after final inspections and they find drugs in the trunk after an illegal inspection.  Yeah right.  They actually let me go after I started laughing when they showed it to me and ran my background.  Could have ended much worse.

but I know what I read and heard and saw and experienced.  Wild times back then. 

Definitely not a snob.  That is really funny.

enjoy