Quincy Jones was one of the most prolific and accomplish musicians of the twentieth century and studied partimenti in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. He passed away last week at the age of 91. Here’s a link to his obituary. Since his passing, I’ve been listening to some of his music and interviews.
Jones started off as a jazz musician, studied with Nadia Boulanger in the 50s, collaborated with Frank Sinatra and Count Basie in the 60s and produced Michael Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller, which is the best selling album of all time. These are just a few highlights of an action packed resume.
My first introduction to Jones was playing ‘Soul Bossa Nova’ in my high school jazz band. I felt SO cool play that oh groovy piano part! Take a listen:
After I had studied at EAMA with with pupils of Nadia Boulanger, I realized that Jones was among her many students. Boulanger was one of the greatest composition teachers ever to live. I will let Quincy tell you all of her amazing students, take a listen to him reflecting on his studies with Boulanger in Paris:
It was studying at EAMA that was my first encounter with partimenti. Firstly Boulnager was a harmony teacher. She taught partimenti, or what she would have called basse donner, to her many generations of students.
This interview with Stephen Colbert made me laugh, and you get a taste of his personality.
Take a listen to some of his music: from Michael Jackson’s Thriller, his film scores like In the Heat of the Night (1967), or The Colour Purple (1985), or his with Frank Sinatra and Count Bassie It Might as Well Be Swing (1964) or Sinatra, at the Sands (1966).