Customer Reviews

Artistry of Modern Jazz Quartet

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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.

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