Qunicy Jones and David Foster

Howard's picture
Submitted by Howard on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 12:01pm.

I was very interested to see the documentary that Richard posted about Quincy Jones. Another producer I am interested in is David Foster. Does anybody know what methods he used to use in the studio, and whether his way of working was anything like Q ?

I have many albums he has produced and worked on, some which of course feature the Toto guys. Would be interested in any insights / anecdotes people have.

Howard.

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chrisb's picture

the FOZ

Submitted by chrisb on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 9:42pm.

CB

I worked for both. Q is very laid back...allows everyone to have a say which creates a collaborative environment.

FOZ on the other is very controlling. He runs the show in a very demonstrative way.

Q has a tremendous knowledge of orchestration having studied with Nadia Boulangier in paris. On the other hand Foz hires guys like me to make sure the orchestra sounds good. Foz is a real seat of the pants guy.

To be frank Foz can be difficult at times with the supporting players in his world. He knows where his bread is buttered. Q on the other hand is the most gracious, engaging, and attentive person you would want to meet.

In a musical context IMHO Q has been much more adventurous over the years than Foz. Don't forget that Q was making jazz records WHILE he was producing mega hits, writing film scores, running record companies etc. Foz is a monstrously talented guy who has found his niche and has been extraordinarily successful marketing it.

I learned a lot from both.

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Howard's picture

...

Submitted by Howard on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 8:18am.

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the insight, I didn't know you had worked with DF. Which albums in particular ? I guess I'm drawn to his style of production being a keyboard player myself.
( actually, did Q play keys on many records he produced, or did he tend to leave that to other musicians ? )

I had a piano teacher in London UK one time who had taken some lessons from Nadia Boulangier, and I remember the name from then. It's a name that seems to keep re-appearing in my life !

( Incidentally, even though my name is Howard Foster I'm no relation ! )

Thanks again,

Howard.

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chrisb's picture

Q trivia

Submitted by chrisb on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 11:01am.

CB

Nadia Boulangier,when asked who her best students were she said: "Aaron Copland and Quincy Jones".

Remember, Nadia was THE compostion teacher of the 20th century.

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chrisb's picture

more about DF and Q

Submitted by chrisb on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 9:01am.

CB

I worked for DF off and on for 20 years....the highlights would be Josh, Buble,Celine etc. I co-produced, arranged and conducted William Joseph's first album "Within".

Q was a trumpet player not a keyboard player. He does play "arranger's piano".

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fmrecords's picture

Thanks Chris. Your answers

Submitted by fmrecords on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 6:08am.

Thanks Chris. Your answers are always informative and enlightening. I hope your memories and stories from your career are put down somewhere....a book?? The very foundations of modern record production were laid by Quincy Jones and those who worked with and around him, and there are a LOT of lessons in there!!

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chrisb's picture

a book?

Submitted by chrisb on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 9:05am.

CB

you're not the first person to suggest a "memoir".

I AM blessed with a good memory...so far.

WE'll see.

CB

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Grazia's picture

+1 for chrisb

Submitted by Grazia on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 9:10am.

you dont know how much hard it is to find soemthing about this amazing music era and musicians. I thimk the next generation need to have the possibilities to remember!!!!

kisses...from Italy

I wrote a book....and I didnt find anithing Good about the L.A. scene

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chrisb's picture

la music

Submitted by chrisb on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 9:17am.

CB

LA can be tough but...the greatest musicians on the planet live here.

the dark part is about money and power. THAT is a different story.

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Raincloudmusic's picture

Foster

Submitted by Raincloudmusic on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 12:39pm.

Foster produced 16, 17, and 18 for "Chicago", played on quite a bit of those albums. He co-writes with the artist he's producing (best guess, no kidding. "17" is a prime example of this).

Some of the things I have learned that "trademark" his sound are:

1. BIG strings...real strings, not patches.
2. Lots of orchestral horns (inner voices, etc.
3. Gated percussion.
4. VERY "squeaky clean" final mixdown...very polished.

The Bell-Rhodes patch (DX7-DX9) is known as the "Hard Habit" patch now, because of it's use by foster in the opening bar of "Hard Habit to Break".

From what I gather, he's not shy about asking players to get up so others can sit down.

Example: Asking a founding drummer (Seraphine) to step aside so that Jeff (another founding drummer) could play. Not only ONCE on "17", but Foster did this to Danny TWO TIMES -asking Carlos Vega to sit down for "You're the Inspiration".
I suppose he has a certain sound in his mind when this happens.
But why???
I still don't get that.

GREAT keys player and influenced my piano a whole lot.
He's produced for Celine, Mariah, Whitney, Jay Graydon and he have worked together for many years. He's also worked with CCM artist Carman, and produced Champlin's "Single" and "Runaway". I *believe* he's on the board of directors of Atlantic Records Group. (Possibly VP).

Very distinctive sound to the tunes he's on.

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Howard's picture

...

Submitted by Howard on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 8:26am.

Thanks RC for the info. I've got all those Chicago albums, there's some great stuff featuring some of the Toto guys on there. I hadn't thought about the real strings thing, but when I think of albums such as Chicago 16 and 17, I remember there being some great real string arrangements on there.

Do you know anything about how David Foster produces today, as opposed to the methods in the 80s ? I guess a lot has changed in terms of budgets, technology, protools etc.

Howard.

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