The Artistry of the Modern Jazz Quartet

The Artistry of the Modern Jazz Quartet

ASIN: B000000ZFY

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Vibraphonist Milt Jackson, pianist John Lewis, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Kenny Clarke were all veterans of Dizzy Gillespie's big band when they decided to dedicate themselves to the cooperative venture of the Modern Jazz Quartet. This compilation brings together material from 1952 to 1955, culled from recordings originally done for the Prestige label, and it shows both the gestation of the group and its early accomplishments. While the group could still swing with the unbridled ferocity of bop, the quieter instrumentation and Lewis's tunes were changing the music considerably. They were in the process of creating a new school of jazz, "cool," and they were already creating a repertoire that would permanently augment the jazz songbook. Heard here are the original recordings of Lewis's "Django," a tribute to the gypsy guitarist that's one of the most beautiful tunes in the canon, and Milt Jackson's "Ralph's New Blues." Sigmund Romberg's "Softly As in a Morning Sunrise" is here, too, in a rendition that would forever associate the tune with the group and make it a jazz standard in the process. By the final session, Connie Kay had replaced Clarke, giving the group the lighter touch that would help define its ultimate identity. Also included are four tracks from a session with Sonny Rollins, including a moving version of Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood." --Stuart Broomer

The Artistry of the Modern Jazz Quartet,The Modern Jazz Quartet,Fantasy,Bop,Cool,Group,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Third Stream

Average customer rating:

Early MJQ, cheerful, lovely, swinging and other good things!

THE BEST music for wine and conversation

The Artistry of the Modern Jazz Quartet
The Modern Jazz Quartet
Manufacturer: Fantasy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Dedicated to Connie

ASIN: B000000ZFY
Release Date: 1991-11-20

Tracks:

La Ronde
Rose Of The Rio Grande
The Queen's Fancy
Delaunay's Dilemma
In A Sentimental Mood
The Stopper
Almost Like Being In Love
No Moe
Django
One Bass Hit
Milano
Ralph's New Blues
I'll Remember April
Concorde
Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise

Amazon.com essential recording

Vibraphonist Milt Jackson, pianist John Lewis, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Kenny Clarke were all veterans of Dizzy Gillespie's big band when they decided to dedicate themselves to the cooperative venture of the Modern Jazz Quartet. This compilation brings together material from 1952 to 1955, culled from recordings originally done for the Prestige label, and it shows both the gestation of the group and its early accomplishments. While the group could still swing with the unbridled ferocity of bop, the quieter instrumentation and Lewis's tunes were changing the music considerably. They were in the process of creating a new school of jazz, "cool," and they were already creating a repertoire that would permanently augment the jazz songbook. Heard here are the original recordings of Lewis's "Django," a tribute to the gypsy guitarist that's one of the most beautiful tunes in the canon, and Milt Jackson's "Ralph's New Blues." Sigmund Romberg's "Softly As in a Morning Sunrise" is here, too, in a rendition that would forever associate the tune with the group and make it a jazz standard in the process. By the final session, Connie Kay had replaced Clarke, giving the group the lighter touch that would help define its ultimate identity. Also included are four tracks from a session with Sonny Rollins, including a moving version of Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood." --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

Early MJQ, cheerful, lovely, swinging and other good things!.......2003-01-07

This compilation, 15 selections from four albums on the Prestige label, features music recorded between Christmas of 1952 and mid-summer, '55. Later that year, the group switched to Atlantic Records, and gradually began to issue music which was more challenging, cerebral, and complex, yet less fun. The stuff on this disc, however, is a fantastic introduction to the MJQ, and clearly shows why the quartet became so famous once Atlantic's bigger budgets for distribution and promotion began to work for them. These songs are well-chosen for variety and accessibility. There are four "standards", with the highlight being an eight-minute version of "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise" which features Milt Jackson's vibes in an amazing performance. Four of the selections feature guest artist Sonny Rollins on sax, including two that he composed himself. Bassist Percy Heath gets the spotlight on "One Bass Hit" which is credited to Dizzy Gillespie. Jackson shines again on his own composition, "Ralph's New Blues." Pianist John Lewis, generally credited with being the intellectual and musical leader of the quartet, composed six of the selections, including the famous and beautiful "Django" which MJQ would redo again and again. On this CD, you get the first recorded version, and it is great. Hard to believe that the 64 minutes of near-perfect jazz heard here is half-a-century old. The recording quality is quite good. I became a fan of MJQ about 1962, and had a couple of their Atlantic vinyls but had never heard the Prestige sides which came before until this week. I'm sorry to have missed them. If you like the group, this item is a bargain.

THE BEST music for wine and conversation.......1999-10-03

What a fabulous CD for mellow and flowing melodies. Artistry and skill is marvelous. Highly recommended for any jazz lover.

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