Quincy

Quincy (2018)

*** (out of 4)

It's rather sad to think that there's a generation (or more) of people out there who probably don't know the name Quincy Jones but thankfully this documentary from Alan Hicks and Rashida Jones is here for a great educational job. This documentary features interviews with Quincy and several others as we take a look at his life and career.

QUINCY seems to be getting some mixed reviews but I think some of the negative ones are a tad bit unfair but I'll get to more on that in a minute. As far as the film goes, this here is certainly worth watching and especially if you're not overly familiar with who Jones is and why he has been so important to not only the music business but also several other things.

I thought the documentary did a terrific job at showing off Jones' career throughout the years including giving us a great idea of what his childhood was like and what it took for him to get where he did. We get some terrific stories of his early career including some dangerous places he played. We also get some great stories about the people he worked with including Frank Sinatra and of course Michael Jackson.

The one problem I had with the film is the fact that it was co-directed by Jones' daughter and I'm going to guess that this is the reason why a lot of things are overlooked or not discussed. In fact, there's really nothing here that shines any sort of light on some of the more controversial aspects of Jones' life. We hear about failed marriages but we never hear what happened. There were some productions that Jones was behind that weren't a success but we never hear about them here.

It's clear that QUINCY wants to educate newer people to who this great man is and on that level it is a major success and an entertaining one. At the same, with the family involvement you can't help but think this isn't the definitive look at Jones.

This was one of the best music documentaries I have watched. I knew Quincy's talent was diverse but wasn't aware of how wide Quincy's scope to make excellent music across so many genres was. He could fuse musical styles but more importantly just transcend styles to produce music whose only category is "damn good music". Very inspiring to watch.

There are only two kind of music... and 'Quincy' is about the good one.. Great documentary about amazing human.

One of the greatest names in music passed away (November 3, 2024). Quincy Jones passed away at his home in Bel-Air, California, at the age of 91. He was widely and deservedly celebrated even during his lifetime! I highly recommend the documentary "Quincy," Netflix, 2018! It's two hours of emotion, grit, and genius, with a behind-the-scenes look at an extraordinary life. I also leave here my humble tribute.

Quincy was born in a Chicago slum in 1933. At a school in Seattle, he developed his trumpet skills. At 14, he met another genius: Ray Charles, with whom he remained friends. By his 20s, Quincy demonstrated such musical talent that his gigs as an arranger and conductor turned into gigs for various jazz bands, even earning him international tours. At a young age, he was already breaking down elitist and racial barriers, something he continued to do for the rest of his career!

In 1958, he performed his first work with Frank Sinatra: a Grimaldi benefit concert in Monaco. Sinatra never stopped supporting the young man, who arranged many of his albums and shows, from iconic LPs with Count Basie, whose first album was 1964's "It Might as Well be Swing," to the 1984 album "LA is My Lady." Sinatra always gave due credit, and they were such good friends that he passed his ring on to him. Quincy never took it off his finger again.

A workaholic and perfectionist, he never stopped. Quincy Jones did it all: from film score composer (in 1964, at the request of director Sidney Lumet, he composed the score for "The Pawnbroker") to TV sitcom producer. Quincy produced "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," a 1990s comedy series that launched Will Smith. As a music producer, his greatest achievement was producing Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in 1982, the best-selling album in music history! And his legacy includes organizing the last-minute "We Are the World" in 1985 to combat famine in Ethiopia (watch "The Night That Changed Pop" on Netflix).

Winner of 28 Grammys, acclaimed by both audiences and critics, and having worked with absolutely extraordinary talents from all musical styles, Quincy Jones leaves a tremendous legacy not only for the United States, but for the world. His creativity, ability, and talent were well-utilized throughout his 70-year career. Now he deserves to rest in peace, but always shining a light on what's to come in the musical universe!

Quincy Jones is a god among men, and has done so much for not only the Black experience, music experience, film experience, and American experience, but the world experience! This documentary informed me very well of who this man is, and all of his amazing achievements! He is so interwoven into the fabric of almost everything in the entertainment industry that it is crazy! He got so many people started including but not limited to: Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith! Mr Jones has done so much for Black people and just people everywhere by simply doing what he does best! He is a workhorse who doesn't stop until his tasks are done, and he has taken on so many tasks that most of us would deem impossible. The man is over 80 years of age and still travelling the world and setting up earth shattering events! This man has truly done it all! Please do yourself a favor and watch this highly attention encapsulating and awesome documentary that not only informs you of the history behind the man, but also takes you on an interesting journey through American history; especially that of the African American and entertainment industry.