Quincy Jones Interview

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

Eric revealed why he ended Cream in his interview in The Last Waltz:

"Music had been going in the wrong direction for a long time. When I heard Music From Big Pink (The Band's debut album, of course), I thought: Well, someone has finally gone and done it right. The album made me excited, but also disturbed."

Somewhat paraphrased, but that's the gist of it. Eric bought a case of Music From Big Pink LP's, put them in the trunk of his car, and gave a copy to everyone he knew, telling them "You've GOT to hear this." He told Jack and Ginger he wasn't interested in continuing Cream, and went up to Saugerties, New York (where The Band lived) to hang with The Band, waiting, as he now laughs about, for them to ask him to join. It finally dawned on him they didn't require or desire his services, so he left, and started on the second phase of his musical career.

Think about that for a second. The leader of the biggest band in the world dissolves that band because he hears an album by another band, one that makes music he feels makes his own irrelevant. Music From Big Pink had that effect on every musician I knew, completely changing our idea of how music should be played, of what made a band good, of what superior musicianship was. I had to start over from the beginning, learning how to play all over again, but now at least knowing what really made a musician a "good" one.

For me (and a lot of musicians I knew), groups like The Beatles were over; their time had past. They made some great music, some pretty good music, some okay music, and some dreadful music. To critique them in terms of their individual technical abilities is so wrongheaded as to defy belief!

I realize the above could be interpreted as supporting the argument that the members of The Beatles weren't "the best" musicians around. So what? They were good enough to play the kind of music they were making REALLY well. Their music was not about the technical abilities of the individual musicians---they were a Pop Group, not a Jazz quartet. Horses for courses!