One of my favorite Quincy Jones recordings is in a genre that is controversial in the minds of jazz lovers. I refer to the pop-leaning, urban-hip, very "produced" studio "jazz"" recordings that many jazz artists like QJ, George Benson and others have released. Purists tend to put down those recordings as "smooth-jazz" drivel or as "cashing in". I think there is good reason for this attitude; more times than not I am left with the feeling: "OK, the playing is very slick, it's all very tight and the tune is catchy; but, so what?".
What QJ does better than just about anyone is to bring a jazz player's sensibility to the multi-track studio where the "performance" is a layering of individual performances, something which would normally give the music an insipid but ultra-slick feeling; as opposed to the organic feeling of music performed by an ensemble playing together in the same room, at the same time. He can take the art of manipulation to new heights. He has such a knack for choosing the right players and soloists for a particular tune, choosing just the right tempo, and other production details that he can elevate the genre to level that is uncommon.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X8t93djjoOE
I find this recording to be absolutely brilliant; within the confines of the genre. The playing is immaculate. If you want great studio flute playing, there is no one better than Hubert Laws. What more can be said about Herbie Hancock? He wrote the tune and plays on the track. The solo he played is brilliant, and is, after the very pretty melody, what the track is all about. The rhythm section playing is amazing. Check out the hi-hat work by Steve Gadd. It's just amazing, and turns the almost disco (horrors!) beat into something much more. QJ's stroke of production genius is in transcribing Herbie Hancock's solo and doubling it with an overdubbed violin section composed of multi-tracks by the same violinist. Also check out his use of hand claps as essentially the only thing that changes and adds variety in an, otherwise, monotonous rhythm track. Usually, that kind of intense manipulation is a recipe for musical disaster. In the hands of QJ, it becomes his canvas, and he "composes" his vision of the tune.
No hamburger will ever be as good as a great T-bone; but, a burger can be pretty great when all the ingredients are just so.
What QJ does better than just about anyone is to bring a jazz player's sensibility to the multi-track studio where the "performance" is a layering of individual performances, something which would normally give the music an insipid but ultra-slick feeling; as opposed to the organic feeling of music performed by an ensemble playing together in the same room, at the same time. He can take the art of manipulation to new heights. He has such a knack for choosing the right players and soloists for a particular tune, choosing just the right tempo, and other production details that he can elevate the genre to level that is uncommon.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X8t93djjoOE
I find this recording to be absolutely brilliant; within the confines of the genre. The playing is immaculate. If you want great studio flute playing, there is no one better than Hubert Laws. What more can be said about Herbie Hancock? He wrote the tune and plays on the track. The solo he played is brilliant, and is, after the very pretty melody, what the track is all about. The rhythm section playing is amazing. Check out the hi-hat work by Steve Gadd. It's just amazing, and turns the almost disco (horrors!) beat into something much more. QJ's stroke of production genius is in transcribing Herbie Hancock's solo and doubling it with an overdubbed violin section composed of multi-tracks by the same violinist. Also check out his use of hand claps as essentially the only thing that changes and adds variety in an, otherwise, monotonous rhythm track. Usually, that kind of intense manipulation is a recipe for musical disaster. In the hands of QJ, it becomes his canvas, and he "composes" his vision of the tune.
No hamburger will ever be as good as a great T-bone; but, a burger can be pretty great when all the ingredients are just so.