Tag Archives: Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones: Mellow Madness

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In August 1975, “A&M” label released “Mellow Madness”, the twenty – fifth Quincy Jones album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Record Plant” and “Westlake Audio” and was produced by Quincy Jones.

Personnel:

  • Quincy Jones – lead and backing vocals, arranger, keyboards, trumpet
  • Toots Thielemans- guitar, harmonica
  • Minnie Riperton, Leon Ware, Jesse Kirkland, Myrna Matthews, Paulette McWilliams, Joseph Greene, Jim Gilstrap, Paulette Williams, Carolyn Willis, Watts Prophets, George Johnson – vocals
  • Wah Wah Watson, George Johnson, Dennis Budimir – guitar
  • Dave Grusin, Don Grusin, Mike Melvoin, Jerry Peters– keyboards
  • Ian Underwood– synthesizer
  • Louis Johnson, Max Bennett, Chuck Rainey– bass
  • Grady Tate, Harvey Mason– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald- conga, drums, percussion
  • Tommy Morgan – harmonica
  • Ernie Krivda, Sahib Shihab– saxophone
  • Bill Lamb, Chuck Findley, Tom Bahler – trumpet
  • Frank Rosolino- trombone, trumpet
  • George Bohanon– trombone
  • Hubert Laws– flute
  • Jerome Richardson– wind

Track listing:

All tracks by Quincy Jones, except where noted.

  1. Is It Love That We’re Missing? – George Johnson, Debbie Smith
  2. Paranoid
  3. Mellow Madness – Tom Bahler, Al Ciner, Quincy Jones, Paulette McWilliams
  4. Beautiful Black Girl – Quincy Jones, Otis Smith
  5. Listen (What It Is)
  6. Just a Little Taste of Me
  7. My Cherie Amour – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  8. Tryin’ to Find Out About You
  9. Cry Baby
  10. Bluesette – Norman Gimbel, Toots Thielemans

George Benson: Give Me The Night

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On August 9, 1980, “Qwest Records” label released “Give Me The Night”, the 18th George Benson album. It was recorded in 1980, at “Kendun Recorders” in Burbank,  and “Cherokee Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Quincy Jones. in 1981 Benson won “Grammy Awards” for “Best Male R&B Vocal Performance”, the track “Moody’s Mood” won “Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male” and track “Off Broadway” won “Best R&B Instrumental Performance”. Quincy Jones and Jerry Hey also won the “Grammy Award” for “Best Instrumental Arrangement” for the song “Dinorah, Dinorah”. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • George Benson– lead and backing vocals, guitar and lead guitar, scat
  • Patti Austin – lead and backing vocals
  • Lee Ritenour– acoustic and electric guitar
  • Greg Phillinganes– keyboards, synthesizer, Fender Rhodes
  • Michael Boddicker– synthesizer
  • Richard Tee– synthesizer bass, electric piano, synthesizer
  • Herbie Hancock– synthesizer, Fender Rhodes
  • Clare Fischer– Yamaha CS30, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes
  • George Duke– keyboards
  • Louis Johnson, Abe Laboriel– bass guitar
  • John Robinson, Carlos Vega – drums
  • Paulinho Da Costa– percussion
  • Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Williams– saxophone, flute
  • Jerry Hey– trumpet
  • Marty Paich– string arrangements, conductor
  • Sid Sharp – concertmaster
  • Jim Gilstrap, Diva Gray, Jocelyn Allen, Tom Bahler– backing vocals
  • Bruce Swedien – recording, mixing
  • Sheridan Eldridge, Ralph Osbourne, Mark Sackett – engineer assistant
  • Jim Sintetos, Kent Duncan – mastering
  • Quincy Jones – liner notes
  • Richard Seireeni – art direction
  • Paul Jasmin – illustration
  • Norman Seeff – cover photography
  • Peter Brill – sleeve photography
  • Anderson Typographics – typohraphics

Track listing:

All tracks by Rod Temperton except where noted.

  1. Love X Love
  2. Off Broadway
  3. Moody’s Mood – Eddie Jefferson, James Moody
  4. Give Me the Night
  5. What’s On Your Mind – Glen Ballard, Kerry Chater
  6. Dinorah, Dinorah – Ivan Lins, Vitor Martins
  7. Love Dance – ivan Lins, Gilson Peranzzetta, Paul Williams
  8. Star of a Story (X)
  9. Midnight Love Affair – David “Hawk” Wolinski
  10. Turn Out the Lamplight

Frank Sinatra & Count Basie: It Might as Well Be Swing

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In August 1964, “Reprise” label released “It Might as Well Be Swing”, studio album by Frank Sinatra, accompanied by Count Basie and his orchestra. It was recorded June 9–12, 1964, Hollywood, and was produced by Sony Burke.

Personnel:

  • Frank Sinatra- vocals
  • Count Basie- piano
  • Quincy Jones- arranger, conductor
  • Al Porcino, Don Rader, Wallace Davenport, Al Aarons, George Cohn and Harry “Sweets” Edison- trumpets
  • Henry Coker, Grover Mitchell, Bill Hughes, Henderson Chambers and Kenny Shroyer – trombones
  • Frank Foster, Charles Fowlkes, Marshal Royal, Frank Wessand Eric Dixon – reeds
  • Emil Richards – vibraphone
  • George Catlett – double bass
  • Freddie Green- guitar
  • Sonny Payne- drums
  • Gerald Vinci, Israel Baker, Jacques Gasselin, Thelma Beach, Bonnie Douglas, Marshall Sosson, Erno Neufeld, Lou Raderman, Paul Shure and James Getzoff – violins
  • Virginia Majewski, Paul Robyn, Alvin Dinkin and Stan Harris –
  • violasEdgar Lustgarten and Ann Goodman – cellos
  • Lowell Frank – engineer
  • Ted Allen – cover photo

Track listing:

  1. Fly Me to the Moon – Bart Howard
  2. I Wish You Love – Léo Chauliac, Charles Trenet, Albert Beach
  3. I Believe in You – Frank Loesser
  4. More (Theme from Mondo Cane) – Riz Ortolani, Nino Oliviero, Marcello Ciorciolini, Norman Newell
  5. I Can’t Stop Loving You – Don Gibson
  6. Hello Dolly – Jerry Herman
  7. I Wanna Be Around – Johnny Mercer, Sadie Vimmerstedt
  8. The Best Is Yet to Come – Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh
  9. The Good Life – Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon
  10. Wives and Lovers – Burt Bacharach, Hal David

Leon Ware

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On February 23, 2017, Leon Ware died aged 77. He was composer,  released eleven albums as a performer, but he was best known for producing and writing music for other musicians and bands including: The Isley Brothers,  Donny Hathaway, The Miracles, Teena Marie, Jeffrey Osborne, Loose Ends, James Ingram, Melissa Manchester, Krystol, Bobby Womack, Lulu,  Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Maxwell, Minnie Riperton and Marvin Gaye.

Al Jarreau

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On February 12, 2017, Alwin Lopez “Al” Jarreau died aged 76. He was musician (percussion) and singer, with successful solo career, has recorded and performed with many famous musicians and bands including: Joe Sample, Chick Corea, Kathleen Battle, Miles Davis, David Sanborn Rick Braun, George Benson, Freddie Hubbard, Sister Sledge, Bob James, Shakatak, Lee Ritenour, Benny Golson and Quincy Jones. In 1991 Jarreau was awarded the “Honorary Doctorate of Music” by “Berklee College of Music”; in 2001 he was inducted in the “Hollywood Walk of Fame”; in 2004 he was awarded “Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts” by “University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee”, and in 2012 he was inducted in the “SoulMusic Hall of Fame at SoulMusic.com”. Jarreau won seven “Grammy Awards”.

Dizzy Gillespie

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On January 6, 1993, John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie died aged 75. He was musician (trumpet), singer, composer and bandleader, trumpet virtuoso and improviser,  regarded as one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time. Together with Charlie Parker, Gillespie was major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz. He has recorded and performed with some of the most important musicians in the jazz history, including Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, Stan Getz, Sonny Stit,Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins,Benny Golson, Bobby Hackett, Mary Lou Williams, Willie Ruff, Dwike Mitchell, Art Blakey, Al McKibbon, Thelonious Monk, Kai Winding, Joe Turner, Roy Eldridge, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Clark Terry, Oscar Peterson, John Lewis, Hank Jones, Percy Heath, Roy Eldridge,  Machito, Benny Carter, Lalo Schifrin, Count Basie, Freddie Hubbard,  Arturo Sandoval, Phil Woods, Moe Koffman, United Nation Orchestra, Jackie McLean, Percy Heath, Ron Holloway, Ed Cherry, John Lee, Ignacio Berroa, Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Mike Longo, Manhattan Transfer,  Carmen McRae, Katie Bell Nubin,  Mongo Santamaria, Woody Shaw, Lillian Terry and Randy Weston.

Freddie Hubbard

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On December 29, 2008, Frederick Dewayne “Freddie” Hubbard died aged 70. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles. He has performed and recorded with many famous musicians including George Benson, Walter Benton, Art Blakey, Tina Brooks, Kenny Burrell, George Cables, Betty Carter, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Richard Davis, Eric Dolphy, Kenny Drew, Charles Earland, Bill Evan,  Joe Farrell, Curtis Fuller, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Oscar Peterson, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Slide Hampton, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Joe Henderson, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson, Billy Joel, Elton John, J.J. Johnson, Quincy Jones, John Lewis, Kirk Lightsey, Ronnie Mathews, Jackie McLean, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Wes Montgomery, Hank Mobley, Alphonse Mouzon, Oliver Nelson, Duke Pearson, Sam Rivers, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Rufus, Poncho Sanchez, Don Sebesky, Wayne Shorter, Leon Thomas, Stanley Turrentine, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton and Randy Weston.

Eric Gale

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On May 25, 1984, Eric J. Gale died aged 55. He was musician (guitar) and composer,  as session guitarist has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names of the music scene, including Clark Terry, Oliver Nelson, Jimmy McGriff, Benny Golson, Van Morrison, Bernard Purdie, Herbie Mann, Yusuf Lateef, Chico Hamilton, Sonny Stitt, Quincy Jones, Al Kooper, Lena Horn, Gabor Szabo, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Esther Philips, Chuck Rainey, Johnny Hammond, Stanley Turrentine,  David Newman, Hank Crawford, Grover Washington, Jr., Roberta Flack, Stanley Turrentine, Hubert Laws, Bob James, Joe Higgs, Van McCoy, Ron Carter, George Benson, Phil Upchurch, Tom Scott, Idris Muhammad, Ashford & Simpson, Cedar Walton, Stanley Turrentine, Blood, Sweat & Tears,  Paul Butterfield, Joe Cocker and David Ruffin. As leader he released twelve albums.

Michael Jackson: Thriller

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Michael_Jackson_-_Thriller

On November 30, 1982, “Epic” label released “Thriller”, the sixth Michael Jackson studio album.  It was recorded April – November 1982, at the “Westlake Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. With more than 65 million copies sold worldwide“Thriller” is the best selling album of all time. In 1984, the album won a record eight “Grammy Awards”, including “Album of the Year” award. In 2003 magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Thriller” on number 20 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. “The National Association of Recording Merchandisers” ranked “Thriller” at number three in its “Definitive 200” albums of all time. The album was included in the “Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry” of culturally significant recordings. In 2012, magazine “Slant” ranked “Thriller” at number one on its list of “Best Albums of the 1980”.

Personnel:

  • Michael Jackson – lead and backing vocals, drum case beater, bathroom stomp board, handclaps, vocal arrangements, rhythm arrangements , horn arrangements , synthesizer arrangements
  • Paul McCartney– vocals
  • Quincy Jones– rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements, musical arrangements
  • Steve Lukather– guitar, bass guitar, additional guitars  musical arrangements
  • Eddie Van Halen– guitar
  • Paul Jackson, Jr.– guitar
  • Dean Parks – guitar
  • David Williams – guitar
  • Rod Temperton – keyboards, synthesizers, rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements , synthesizer arrangements
  • Steve Porcaro – keyboards, synthesizers, synthesizer programming , musical arrangements
  • Bill Wolfer – keyboards , synthesizers, synthesizer programming
  • Brian Banks – keyboards, synthesizer, synthesizer programming
  • Michael Boddicker– keyboards, synthesizers, Emulator, Vocoder
  • N’dugu Chancler– drums
  • Paulinho da Costa– percussion
  • David Foster– synthesizers, synthesizer arrangements
  • Anthony Marinelli– synthesizer programming
  • David Paich – keyboards, synthesizers, piano, rhythm arrangements, musical arrangements
  • Greg Phillinganes – keyboards , synthesizers, electric piano, synthesizer programming
  • Greg Smith – synthesizers
  • Louis Johnson– bass guitar
  • Jeff Porcaro – drums
  • Larry Williams – saxophone, flute
  • Jerry Hey– trumpet, flugelhorn, horn arrangements, string arrangements, strings conductor
  • Gary Grant – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Bill Reichenbach – trombone
  • Chris Shepard  – vibraslap
  • Vincent Price – voice-over
  • La Toya Jackson, Janet Jackson – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Wanna Be Startin’ Something – Michael Jackson
  2. Baby Be Mine – Rod Temperton
  3. The Girl Is Mine – Michael Jackson
  4. Thriller – Rod Temperton
  5. Beat It – Michael Jackson
  6. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
  7. Human Nature – Steve Porcaro, John Bettis
  8. Pretty Young Thing – James Ingram, Quincy Jones
  9. The Lady In My Life – Rod Temperton

Clark Terry

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On February 21, 2015, Clark Terry died aged 94. He was musician (trumpet, flugehorn) and composer, pioneer of the flugehorn in Jazz, educator, and “NEA Jazz Masters” inductee. His career spanned more than seventy years and in which he played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–1951), Duke Ellington (1951–1959)  and Quincy Jones (1960). He is among the most recorded Jazz musicians ever.