Poster for Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones
Film

Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

Dir. Ellen Weissbrod·1990·1h 55m

The extraordinary life of Quincy Jones -- one of the 20th century's most influential and talented composers, musicians and music producers -- provides the basis of this offbeat, free-form documentary tribute. With little regard for formal timelines and traditional documentary biography methods, the film is an amazing patchwork of personal insights featuring a constellation of music stars including his long-time friend Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Herbie Hancock, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie and rappers Big Daddy Kane and Flavor Flav, as well as politicians, filmmakers and other important people. Some of the most moving scenes involve Jones returning to his childhood home in Chicago and recounting honest and painful memories from his childhood. Jones does not shy from discussing everything -- from his mother's mental illness, to his marital problems, to his serious health conditions. He also looks frankly at his career.

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Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones (1990)

Ellen Weissbrod

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1h 55m
Cross-source blend ~80/100

At a glance

Countries

United States of America

Ratings

TMDB users

8.0/10

2 votes

Rating consensus

80/100 blend

Sources: TMDB

Warm reception overall — weighted ~80/100 across 1 rating source. The listed meters mostly agree.

Cast

Quincy Jones

Self

Clarence Avant

Self

George Benson

Self

Big Daddy Kane

Self

Tevin Campbell

Self

Ray Charles

Self

Miles Davis

Self

El DeBarge

Self

Michael Jackson

Self (voice)

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Logged by@user
Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones (1990)

Ellen Weissbrod

Saved to Library

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