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Quincy Jones, or Q, had lived a remarkable 91 years of life, before his demise in November 2024. To have the chance to watch this 2-hour documentary, written and directed by his daughter Rashida Jones is a privilege.  It means that you’re getting the most intimate scenes and stories of his long, colourful journey of life. Alan Hicks also directed the film, depicting the icon. And to watch this on the back of the frenzy, re-activated by the Michael Jackson biopic (2026) is even more fitting.

There are two intermingling parts to this documentary about Jones, the monumental figure. While the present is directed by his daughter and offers a glimpse into his golden years, the past contains the voiceover done by Q himself. I thought it was bold that even Jones’ ex-wives were included, to help with the documentary’s content.

Heartfelt and captivating bits include Jones’ hospital stays and the opening of a museum acknowledging and celebrating the African-Americans in Washington D.C., the US. Jones produced a television special for the opening of the museum. Jones, among other things, was a trumpeter. To actually hear the words that Jones could no longer play the trumpet after a while, as advised by the doctors was heartbreaking. Clearly Jones’ legacy lived beyond the music realm – his influence is felt through culture, as well.

While understandably, this documentary’s focus is on Quincy, part of the reason Jones became even more famous, was due to his production work on Michael Jackson’s albums and singles. So, the portions on Michael Jackson felt a tad bit short. Jones, after all, produced Off the Wall, Jackson’s debut album, Thriller, and Bad, before Jackson decided that he should have other options and didn’t just want Jones’ name to be linked to his successes. “We Are The World”, written for famine relief, remains the most successful single ever arranged and produced in Jones’ lifetime – one that involved 40 artists, including Michael Jackson.

As highlighted in the documentary, Jones’ most notable work “The Colour Purple”, was during which he played a role that involved many facets Besides being composer and producer, he was also the casting visionary for the original film, released in 1985, as well as the 2005 Broadway musical and the 2023 musical film.

Given his longevity and energy, despite a number of health scares, Jones has influenced the artists of the ‘40’s to moulding hip hop and mentoring others like Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre. While the documentary does an excellent job at giving you as much about Jones’ life in two hours, the film felt more celebratory and feel-good. There’s little on what was the driving force and how his musical genius developed.

All in all, it’s good for international audiences who may not have access to much of Quincy Jones day-to-day, unless you happen to live in the US or you read extensively. But otherwise, other viewers with a more critical lens, might find it lacking in some aspects.

It’s still worth at least one watch. So, give it a try when you can.  

Jones is the maestro, after all. He’s set the bar for your favourite artists.