"Jazz" is the seventh studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 10 November 1978. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, the album featured a mix of musical styles, ranging from rock and pop to funk and jazz, which received both praise and criticism. It reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and number six on the US Billboard Top LPs chart. The album’s artwork was suggested by drummer Roger Taylor, who had seen a similar design painted on the Berlin Wall.
Rehearsals for Jazz began in early July 1978, following a significant tax bill that prompted the band to record outside the UK. Brian May, who had just become a father, moved to Canada due to tax-related issues, while the rest of the band rehearsed in Nice, France. They later relocated to Montreux, Switzerland, after attending the Montreux Jazz Festival, where they met David Bowie. Bowie encouraged them to record at Mountain Studios, where much of the album was produced.
The band began preliminary recordings in France, including tracks like "Don't Stop Me Now" and "Fat Bottomed Girls," before moving to Montreux. It was during this time that the idea for the song "Bicycle Race" was inspired by Freddie Mercury's visit to the Tour de France. Throughout July, the band worked on tracks like "Fun It," "Jealousy," and "Let Me Entertain You." A notorious incident occurred on 26 July, when the band celebrated Roger Taylor's 29th birthday by trashing a Montreux hotel, with Mercury reportedly swinging on a chandelier during the festivities.
After a brief break in August, the band continued recording at Super Bear Studios in France, completing tracks like "Mustapha," "Bicycle Race," and "If You Can't Beat Them." They finished overdubbing and mixing the album in September, with the lead single mastered by mid-month and the full album completed on 14 October at Super Bear Studios.
Jazz’s varied musical styles and the band's adventurous approach to both songwriting and production made it a distinctive album in Queen's catalog, even as it garnered mixed reactions. The album's diversity and experimental spirit, paired with some iconic songs like "Bicycle Race" and "Fat Bottomed Girls," helped solidify its place in Queen's legacy.
