Concord Records will release two albums of previously unreleased Quincy Jones material dating from 1969-’71, when the mega-producer served as musical director for NBC’s The Bill Cosby Show. On June 22, Concord will release Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby: The Original Jam Sessions 1969, a disc of numerous informal jam sessions from Jones (pictured) and Cosby’s collaboration with musicians like Jimmy Smith, Milt Jackson and Ray Brown. Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby: The New Mixes, Vol. I will follow on July 13.
The New Mixes features remixes of Jones’ work by contemporary artists, DJs and producers with the goal of creating a bridge between the old and new. The album includes remixes by Mix Master Mike, Bedrock, Cornershop and Los Amigos Invisibles. Marc Cazorla, executive producer for Quincy Jones Music, said the artists were encouraged to take creative liberties.
“All of these artists were psyched to work with Jones’ music,” Cazorla said in a press release. “And Quincy really flipped when I played everything for him.”
The newly rediscovered material used for both albums was found during an office move; it had been forgotten for more than 30 years.
“We discovered some boxes labeled ‘Quincy, Jimmy Smith and Oscar, 1969,’ and about fell out of our chairs,” Cazorla said.
Along with partner Nancie Stern, Cazorla came up with the idea of two separate releases, which Jones quickly agreed to.
“A lot of people don’t really realize the impact that jazz has had on modern music, and Quincy’s always looking to turn people on to something fresh,” Cazorla said. “Both he and Bill were completely supportive of the idea.”
The Original Jam Sessions features two original session versions of the Emmy Award-nominated song “Hikky-Burr”-an instrumental version and another with Cosby on vocals. The song, which became the theme song for the television show, became a hit single for Jones when he re-recorded it for his early-1970s release, Smackwater Jack, which won a Grammy Award. “Hikky-Burr” is reinterpreted on The New Mixes by Mix Master Mike.
For more information on the releases, visit www.concordrecords.com.
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