Last year, Quincy Jones Jr., one of the most prolific producers and arrangers in the music business, celebrated his 75th birthday.
In his teens, Jones, known as "Q" to his friends, played in a jazz trio with Ray Charles. By the time he was in his early 20s he was playing and directing music for Dizzy Gillespie.
Jones wrote the theme songs for "Ironsides," "Sanford & Son" and "The Bill Cosby Show," and he produced several TV specials to boot.
Arguably one of his biggest commercial successes came when he produced Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall" and "Thriller."
Obviously these are only a few things the muliple-Grammy Award-winning Jones has accomplished during his career.
To celebrate his birthday, Claude Nobs, founder and CEO of the Montreux Jazz Festival, threw a party for Jones on July 14.
Highlights of the celebration have been captured on the "Quincy Jones: the 75th Birthday Celebration" ($24.99, Eagle Eye Media, 2 discs).
And what a celebration it was.
After a warm introduction for Nobs, the festivities begin with Jones' version of Ennio Morricone's "The Good, the Bad, the Ugly," performed by Herbie Hancock, Patti Austin, Stevie Woods and the Montreux House Band — featuring keyboardists Greg Phillinganes and David Delhomme, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., bassist Nathan East, drummer John Robinson and percussionist Paulinho da Costa.
From there it gets only better.
Saxman James Moody plays a few songs, including "Let the Good Times Roll," "Moody's Mood" (with Austin) and "The Television Song."
Torch-bearer vocalist Freda Payne and pianist Joe Sample perform "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Shiny Stockings," and jazz vocalist Mick Hucknall, accompanied by trumpeter Johannes Walther, emote the "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town/In the Heat of the Night" medley.
New Orleans rhythm & blues singer Ledisi finds her groove with "If I Ever Lose This Heaven," the honorable Al Jarreau croons "Midnight Sun" and "The Dude," and the great Petula Clark bows in with "One Mint Julep."
Clark also sings "Goin' to Chicago Blues" with young buck Paolo Nutini. In fact, later on on Disc 2, Nutini gets in touch with his inner spirit and, while looking a bit tentative, solos on "Strawberry Letter 23."
Austin revives "How Do You Keep the Music Playing," which she originally sang with James Ingram, and firehouse Angelique Kidjo struts her stuff with "Mama Aifambeni" (the main title from the "Roots" soundtrack) and "State of Independence."
Singer Chaka Khan, pianist Monty Alexander, Nana Mouskouri, windman Toots Thielmans, guitarist Lee Ritenour, singer Curtis Stigers, pianiast Joe Sample and trumpeter Franco Ambrosetti are also part of the celebration.
While Michael Jackson wasn't at the event, he was represented in an ear-catching a cappella medley by Naturally 7. Arguably Naturally 7's slot is the highlight of the DVD.
Not only does the group do an excerpt from "Off the Wall," but they start the set with "Billie Jean" and then slip into Roger Thomas' "Wall of Sound" with perfect pitch and "how-do-they-do-it?" vocals that mimic drums, synths and DJ scratches.
Clocking in at a total of 178 minutes, "Quincy Jones: The 75th Birthday Celebration Live at Montreux 2008" is a great way to spend an evening.
Turn the lights low and take the DVDs for a spin.
e-mail: scott@desnews.com