Jazz Quartet

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.

The Modern Jazz Quartet - Plays George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess (1966) {Atlantic Jazz Masters–Rhino 8122-75445-2 rel 2004}
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© 1964-65, 2004 Atlantic / Rhino / Warner | 8122-75445-2
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Third Stream

The Modern Jazz Quartet, a group legendary for it's feats during their heyday in the cool bop period of jazz music, shares with the listener a brilliant effort encompassing their impression of composer George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess." Acclaimed by Encyclopedia Britannica as "the greatest American musical drama ever written," The Modern Jazz Quartet perform it at the highest level of creative flair to pay homage to a marvel of composition with the utmost degree of sincerity and respect. This is a piece that Gershwin took a full 11 months to compose and nine months to orchestrate, all based on the initial inspiration from a drama written by playwright Dorothy Heyward. Opening up the score is Gershwin's dazzling and seductive tune "Summertime," a landslide mark of musical brilliance.

One of the first Modern Jazz Quartet albums on Atlantic - a 1957 set that finds the crew in one of their freshest periods - laying down their soon-to-be trademark style in a fashion that warrants the self-titled tag! The set kicks off with a stellar medley of standards, all given the tight MJQ touch! The crew strolls through "They Say It's Wonderful", "How Deep Is The Ocean", "Body And Soul" and more in that 10 minute stretch. Other album highlights include the drum-heavy "La Ronde", a sweet reading of "Night In Tunisia", "Baden Baden", "Bag's Groove" and "Yesterdays".

Modern Jazz Quartet - A Night At The Opera (1993) {Jazz Door ‎JD 1244}
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© 1993 Jazz Door / ITM-Media | ‎JD 1244
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Third Stream / Piano / Vibes

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. They next came together in 1951, recording as the Milt Jackson Quartet. In 1952, with Percy Heath taking Brown's place, the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) became a permanent group. Other than Connie Kay succeeding Clarke in 1955, the band's personnel was set. In the early days Jackson and Lewis both were equally responsible for the group's musical direction but the pianist eventually took over as musical director.

The Modern Jazz Quartet - The Modern Jazz Quartet (1957) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27103}
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© 1957, 2012 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27103 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Third Stream

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. One of the first Modern Jazz Quartet albums on Atlantic – a 1957 set that finds the crew in one of their freshest periods – laying down their soon-to-be trademark style in a fashion that warrants the self-titled tag! The set kicks off with a stellar medley of standards, all given the tight MJQ touch! The crew strolls through "They Say It's Wonderful", "How Deep Is The Ocean", "Body And Soul" and more in that 10 minute stretch. Other album highlights include the drum-heavy "La Ronde", a sweet reading of "Night In Tunisia", "Baden Baden", "Bag's Groove" and "Yesterdays".

Nice mix of work by John Lewis, including his score for No Sun In Venice, key work with the Modern Jazz Quartet/Sextet, and the one-off Modern Jazz Society album showcasing compositions by Lewis.

The album is largely dominated by the opening multi-sectional piece, three parts interlocking into a suite-like whole. Each part can stand-alone or together as evidenced by other versions of the first two: “Route 4” and “Lyriste” recorded by other groups on other albums.

The Modern Jazz Quartet - Germany 1956-1958. Lost Tapes (2013) {Jazzhaus}
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© 2013 Jazzhaus / SWR Music | 101 731
Jazz / Cool / Third Stream / Bop

At the time of these recordings, John Lewis was still in the process of developing the unique concept of MJQ as a jazz chamber group, for which he often scored even the bass and drum parts. Every track of this pioneering early phase exemplifies how Lewis, to quote Andre Francis, turned four musicians into 'a sensitive instrument which vibrates in the same universe of sound, achieving a communion unique in the world of jazz.'