The music and career of mogul Quincy Jones was celebrated in grand fashion at a special six-hour show marking his 75th birthday at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland July 14th. The show was billed as the main event of the internationally famous two-week summer jazz festival.
Patti Austin serenaded her godfather and frequent producer with "Makin' Whoopee" before performing a duet with Chaka Khan of "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)," from the film The Color Purple.
The show featured old friends like saxophonist James Moody and keyboardist Herbie Hancock; longtime admirers like Mick Hucknall, Al Jarreau, Angelique Kidjo, and Petula Clark; and a crop of newer stars like Ledisi, Rahsaan Patterson, and Paolo Nutini.
"No words can describe the emotions I feel -- all these talented, loyal, giving people," Jones told the crowd, according to Reuters.
"I've had two aneurysms, but I'm glad God wasn't ready to take me. I stopped drinking six months ago or I would never have survived this," added the composer, producer, and humanitarian, who actually turned 75 back on March 14th.
A while back, Patti Austin talked about what it's like to record with Jones: "I love working with Quincy because he loves to throw stuff at me that I normally wouldn't tackle myself, and he's also tremendously encouraging when he does that, so he gives me this false sense of security that I can (laughs) perhaps pull it off."
Listen to Patti Austin On Working With Quincy Jones:
The music and career of mogul Quincy Jones was celebrated in grand fashion at a special six-hour show marking his 75th birthday at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland July 14th. The show was billed as the main event of the internationally famous two-week summer jazz festival.