Modern Jazz Quartet Django

Hailing from a trio of Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) sessions, Django (1955) contains some of the earliest sides that Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass) and Kenny Clarke (drums) recorded for Prestige Records. Initially, the combo was part of Dizzy Gillespie's influential backing band and after a change in drummers (to Connie Kay), they continued as one of the more sophisticated aggregates of the post-bop era. The album commences with Lewis' sublime and serene title track "Django," dedicated to the memory of guitarist extraordinaire Django Reinhardt. This musical paean aptly recaptures the essence of Reinhardt's enigmatic gypsy-like nature, especially evident within Jackson's leads, which emerge from the thoughtful opening dirge with a refined, warm tone throughout…

Selection of recordings by the distinguished Modern Jazz Quartet. Included are three recordings: San Francisco, May 1962; Monterey, September 1975; and Berlin October 1965.
Pianist John Lewis, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Kenny Clarke first came together as the rhythm section of the 1946 Dizzy Gillespie & His Orchestra and they had occasional features that gave the overworked brass players a well-deserved rest.

Hailing from a trio of Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) sessions, Django (1955) contains some of the earliest sides that Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass) and Kenny Clarke (drums) recorded for Prestige Records. Initially, the combo was part of Dizzy Gillespie's influential backing band and after a change in drummers (to Connie Kay), they continued as one of the more sophisticated aggregates of the post-bop era. The album commences with Lewis' sublime and serene title track "Django," dedicated to the memory of guitarist extraordinaire Django Reinhardt. This musical paean aptly recaptures the essence of Reinhardt's enigmatic gypsy-like nature, especially evident within Jackson's leads, which emerge from the thoughtful opening dirge with a refined, warm tone throughout.

CD released in Germany in 1987 under license in which reissued the LP of the same name published in 1956, which includes 8 songs originally recorded between 1953 and 1955 by the Modern Jazz Quartet. This is the original group founded in 1952 in the wake of his tenure with Dizzy Gillespie. It is composed of the pianist, composer, arranger and director John Aaron Lewis (Illinois, 1920-2001), the vibraphonist Milton 'Bags' Jackson (Michigan, 1923-99), the bass Percy Heath (North Carolina, 1923-2005) and the drummer Kenny Clarke (Pennsylvania, 1914-1985). The quartet played different styles of jazz, especially including 'bebop', 'cool jazz', 'swing' and 'third stream' (mixture of classical and improvisation). The name of the album is a tribute to the famous Belgian guitarist Django Reinhardt.