Quincy Jones

School Library Journal

Gr 5 Up-A standard-issue biography with not much to recommend it. Bayer recounts the life of Jones, who rose from a Depression-era childhood and a difficult family situation to become a renowned composer, arranger, and music artist. The writing is workmanlike at best. Bayer does not generate any feeling for her subject that would make him come alive. Many of the quotes are not attributed. The photos are generic or standard archival shots; there are no pictures of Jones as a child, or of actual locations he might know. There is no discography or list of his musical credits to give an overall sense of his career and his admittedly huge influence as a composer and arranger.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.