Quincy: TIFF 2018 Review

Ray Charles, Soul, Louis Armstrong, the King of Pop, Rhythm & Blues, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Will Smith, Be-Bop, Hip-Hop, Frank Sinatra, Jazz,… all these people and things have one thing in common.  They all became better at what they were born to be as a result of interacting with one man:  Quincy.  Jones.

Quincy Review

This new documentary plays like an entire case of “you think you know, but you really didn’t know”.  You think you know the reach of his actual influence.  You don’t.  You think you know where he came from.  You don’t.  You think you know how many decades of music he has enhanced.  You don’t.  You think you know what all the success cost him.  You definitely don’t.  Not until the final frame rolls do you feel like you may be a little closer to knowing WHO the man really is, but you will know his accomplishments.

Some guy with Quincy Jones.

This film is not your average doc.  It is co-produced by an actual documentarian in Alan Hicks, and his famous daughter, Rashida Jones.  They set out to tell a story with context, not just musical, but familial.  The added element of understanding Quincy’s personal life through his exes and his children help to paint a more complete picture of the icon.

Most people know that Quincy has worked with the greats.  When you think of Quincy Jones, all one really knows of him is his work ethic.  The doc lets you see how that same work ethic affected his family and the things he counts most important to him.  You learn about his embattled relationship with his mother, and where he got his drive.  You learn that it wasn’t all golden records and endless gigs.

Kidada, Quincy, & Rashida Jones

Quincy Verdict

Quincy Jones, in many ways, is a culmination of the American Dream, good old fashioned miracles, and work…  Hard work.  If you ever listened to any of the genres or people listed in the first sentence, this documentary has something in it that is worth knowing for you.  It will speak to your heart, your memories of the first time you saw the moonwalk on Motown 25, or the first time you heard Louis’ “What a Wonderful World”, or the first time you heard, “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To” (he wrote that), or when you and your family gathered around the TV set on Monday nights to watch a Fresh Prince find his way in an affluent California suburb.

Bottom line, I can’t think of anyone who has been more consistently relevant in the last 60 years of pop culture than this man.  Everyone should know more about this juggernaut of a human being.  But you don’t have to take my word for it.  Quincy is streaming on Netflix right now.  See it for yourself.