All-star cast at Quincy Jones tribute

MONTREUX (Switzerland) • The show started at 2am, but still drew 600 people. They sacrificed sleep to catch an all-star cast of musicians, from Ibrahim Maalouf to Mos Def to Monty Alexander, paying tribute to producer Quincy Jones at an epic Montreux concert that ended just before dawn on Monday.

Jones, 85, attended the show in the House of Jazz at the 52nd edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival, where he served as co-director in the 1990s. Drummer Nate Smith and Kinfolk opened the three-hour show. "There was no sound check, it's all about improvisation," he told the audience at the free event, which will be available on Qwest TV, Jones' video-streaming service, in September.

Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective thanked Jones, a 27-time Grammy winner, for "making us dance for generations".

Another British newcomer and Jones prodigy, Jacob Collier, performed Human Nature from Michael Jackson's best-selling Thriller album, produced by Jones in 1982.

REUTERS

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 11, 2018, with the headline All-star cast at Quincy Jones tribute. Subscribe