Basie Reunion

This 1958 session by members of two distinct editions of Count Basie's band is actually a follow-up to a similar reunion, For Basie, recorded earlier the same year. With tenor saxophonist Paul Quinichette as the leader and trumpeters Shad Collins and Buck Clayton in the front line, Jack Washington was lured out of semi-retirement to play baritone sax, though he obviously was having some problems with the instruments, due to the fact he had played alto sax almost exclusively around the time this recording was made. Nat Pierce fills Count Basie's economical role on piano, and the rest of the rhythm section includes rhythm guitarist Freddie Green (who served 50 years with the Basie organization), bassist Eddie Jones, and drummer Jo Jones…

Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington were (and are) two of the main stems of jazz. Any way you look at it, just about everything that's ever happened in this music leads directly – or indirectly – back to them. Both men were born on the cusp of the 19th and 20th centuries, and each became established as a leader during the middle '20s. …

This CD reissue brings back a unique duet recording featuring pianist Oscar Peterson and vibraphonist Milt Jackson. One would expect the instrumentation to feature mostly ballads, but the opposite is true as O.P. and Bags romp through quite a few uptempo pieces. Highlights include "Oh, Lady Be Good," "Limehouse Blues," "Reunion Blues," and "Just You, Just Me." This is a successful and highly enjoyable outing.

The Modern Jazz Quartet - The Complete Modern Jazz Quartet Prestige & Pablo Recordings (2003) {4CD Set}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 1,44 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 703 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 21 Mb
© 50s, 80s, 2003 Fantasy / Prestige / Pablo | 4PRCD 4438-2
Jazz / Third Stream / Bop / Cool

In typical Fantasy Records aplomb, this four-CD set collects the eight albums which the Modern Jazz Quartet either mentored or collaborated on during their tenure at the commencement and nadir of their reign as jazz's premier chamber ensemble. Beginning with the 1952 issue of Modern Jazz Quartet/Milt Jackson Quintet recording (the earlier Milt Jackson Quartet sides are not here for obvious reasons, as the band did not commence its fully developed form on them) featuring original drummer Kenny Clarke before Connie Kay replaced him, and ending with This One's For Basie in 1985; the association the MJQ had with Prestige was a monumental one.