Hollywood Bowl Hosts Celebration for Quincy Jones’ 90th Birthday with Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson & Samara Joy

“Q, this is for you!” proclaimed singer Patti Austin in kicking off the second of a two-night celebration of Quincy Jones’ 90^th birthday on the Hollywood Bowl (July 28-29). The two-and-a-half-hour tribute delivered a power-packed sampling of the music icon’s multifaceted, illustrious profession as an artist, producer, arranger and conductor.

Jones’ goddaughter Austin, Stevie Wonder and acclaimed newcomer Samara Joy have been among the many artists who lifted their divine voices in tribute. Backing them have been core members of Jones’ longtime home band over time, together with music director/keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr. and bassist Nathan East, alongside the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra led by conductor Jules Buckley.

And whereas Jones, born Quincy Delight Jones on March 14, 1933, wasn’t in attendance, there’s little doubt he felt the great vibrations emanating from the Bowl. Here are 5 memorable moments from Saturday night time’s (July 29) efficiency:

A Wonder-Full Time: Reprising his shock celebration look from the night time earlier than, Wonder joined Austin onstage for a memory-evoking rendition of “Betcha’ Wouldn’t Hurt Me” — a music the latter guested on initially for Jones’ 1981 album The Dude. After that, Wonder took an elated Bowl viewers again to certainly one of his traditional albums, 1972’s Talking Book, with the music “You’ve Got It Bad Girl.” Before that, Wonder shared with the viewers that he’d first met Jones when he was a 14-year-old “running around the Apollo Theater like I could see” and heard that Jones was within the constructing. 

“When I met Quincy, it was magical,” added Wonder. “I’d grown up listening to his music and arrangements; he knew Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra and others. After I did Talking Book, he recorded ‘You’ve Got It Bad Girl’ for one of his albums and also did ‘Superstition’ with Ray Charles for another.” Concluding his full-circle second, Wonder famous, “I want to thank you [Quincy] for everything you’ve given me — all the inspiration, the many times you said it’s not quite right; keep working on it, and for bringing people together through music.”

Before teaming with Wonder, Austin delivered a hovering learn on certainly one of her personal gems, “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” A duet with singer James Ingram that was launched within the 1982 movie Best Friends, it turned successful single after being featured on Ingram’s Jones-produced 1983 debut album, It’s Your Night. Afterwards, Austin shouted out “two dear friends [now deceased] who made all of this possible”: Ingram and Marilyn Bergman, the music’s co-lyricist with widower Alan Bergman.

A Joyous Moment: With her reinterpretation of “Misty” — the Erroll Garner jazz traditional that Sarah Vaughan recorded with Jones and his orchestra in 1958 — Samara Joy effortlessly underscored why she was awarded Grammys for finest new artist and finest jazz vocal album earlier this yr. With a wealthy, full-bodied voice and subtle-into-soaring vary and emotional nuances that belie the 23-year-old’s age, Joy and her efficiency — complemented by a riveting sax solo from one other Jones collaborator, Larry Williams — known as to thoughts Jones’ early begin as a jazz trumpeter, arranger and conductor and his work with different feminine vocalists corresponding to Dinah Washington. So did Aloe Blacc’s partaking rendering of certainly one of Jones’ most well-known preparations: Frank Sinatra’s swinging tackle the usual “Fly Me to the Moon” in 1964 with the Count Basie Orchestra additionally alongside for the trip.

Hudson’s Homage: Bringing forth the gusto that propelled “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” her signature music within the 2006 movie Dreamgirls, Jennifer Hudson (who solely carried out on Saturday) fiercely punched her manner by Lesley Gore’s 1963 feminist pop anthem, “You Don’t Own Me.” Jones, who broke the C-suite colour barrier at a file label when he was appointed a vp at Mercury Records in 1961, produced the No. 2 single and in addition Gore’s earlier No. 1 debut, “It’s My Party.” Hudson’s efficiency — peppered with excessive, sustained notes — confirmed off her impeccable vary as she strutted forwards and backwards. Then because the music stopped, she strode offstage nonetheless belting out the phrase “you don’t own me” — prompting an viewers member to yell, “You go, girl!”

The MJ Suite: Following a 20-minute intermission, the celebration received again all the way down to enterprise with a salute to the top-selling, award-winning collaborations between Jones and King of Pop Michael Jackson. Vula Malinga, one of many night’s 5 gifted background vocalists, jumpstarted the second half with a rousing efficiency of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” She returned to carry out “P.Y.T.,” whereas fellow backing vocalist Avery Wilson energetically reprised “Rock With You,” “Off the Wall” and “Thriller.” With his mom Suzie Collier as conductor, Jones protégé Jacob Collier sat down on the piano for a touching tackle “Human Nature.” Adding the icing on the section was Siedah Garrett, who sang “Man in the Mirror,” which she and Glen Ballard co-wrote for Jackson. Her passionate and pressing supply emphasised simply how timeless that 1988 No. 1 music is given the present social and political local weather right here and globally.

Double Encores: The Bowl’s full home was handled to 2 encores. The first: Jones’ cowl of “Let the Good Times Roll” with Bono, Ray Charles and Wonder from 1995’s Q’s Jook Joint. Trading verses for the 2023 model have been Austin, Joy, Collier, Jones’ protégé pianist Alfredo Rodriguez and trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf with visitor drummer Gregg Field. Then Wonder returned to steer them and the night’s different performers in his 1980 music “Happy Birthday,” written to commemorate the primary nationwide celebration of Martin Luther King Day. Wonder performed an instrumental position in securing a federal vacation for the civil rights pioneer. “It would be crazy for me to not end this celebration with something that Quincy was the first one to say I’ll do it,” mentioned Wonder referencing a TV particular that marked the vacation’s first celebration. If not for you [Quincy], all of us on this stage wouldn’t be the place we’re at this time.”

Among the opposite artists comprising the lineup for the two-night Quincy Jones’ 90^th Birthday Tribute: A Musical Celebration have been: John Legend (Friday), Angélique Kidjo (Friday), BJ The Chicago Kid (Friday), Sheléa and Stevie Mackey.

 

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