Complete Modern Jazz Quartet Prestige & Pablo Rec [Box set, Original recording remastered]

The Modern Jazz Quartet | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 21, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Prestige
• ASIN: B0000DIJPJ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,729 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection!, December 22, 2008

By 

Paul V. Spade - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Modern Jazz Quartet Prestige & Pablo Recordings (MP3 Download)

I had the good fortune to see the MJQ twice while they were still active, and before that I had bought lot of their albums and boxed sets on LP and CD.

I've had a curious relation to the MJQ. Back long ago, I bought a copy of *Pyramid* on LP when it was still new, and grew to love it. Then I bought more, and eventually came to know what to expect. Finally, when I saw that they had come out with a new album, I started to think "Do I really want to buy this? I know exactly what it's going to sound like!" And I did.

But on several occasions, I did buy the new album -- and always came away thinking "Why did I ever doubt you?"

This music is perhaps as close to perfection as you are allowed to get in this life. I'm not always in the mood for it, but listening to one or two tracks will *get* me in the mood for it. The ideal combination of sounds. John Lewis's impeccable, spare, classically influenced piano; Milt Jackson's funky, church-influenced, vibraharp; Percy Heath's always tasteful and perfect bass; Connie Kay's sensitive but hard-swinging drums and cymbals.

Run, do not walk, to get this set!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Jazz Music, November 27, 2008

By 

J. Rich - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Complete Modern Jazz Quartet Prestige & Pablo Rec (Audio CD)

When people discuss jazz they seem to talk about Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, etc. the most and with good reason, they are all groundbreaking jazz innovators, but the Modern Jazz Quartet are one of the best ongoing groups in the history of jazz. Milt Jackson, John Lewis, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, who after a few recordings was replaced by Connie Kay. What these outstanding musicians did was break down many barriers and they never seem to get their due. What the MJQ did was bring a level of sophistication to jazz music while still remaining it's roots in bebop. They also forged a new style of jazz using elements of classical music like counterpoint. A very remarkable group that is still underrated in my opinion.

"The Complete Modern Jazz Quartet Prestige & Pablo Recordings" is exactly what the title says, all of their work for those two labels (1952-1985). This music is lyrical and swinging. If you don't own anything, but are curious about this group then this is a great collection of music to pick up. This collection contains the classic recordings "Django" and "Concorde."

I highly recommend this box set to anyone willing to hear four jazz musicians that achieved a sound that was unlike anything at it's time.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Contains all of these 8 albums, June 13, 2010

By 

Barry Mossman (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Modern Jazz Quartet Prestige & Pablo Rec (Audio CD)

Contains the contents from 8 original albums, some otherwise currently unavailable. I found the following list here: [...]

# Modern Jazz Quartet/Milt Jackson Quintet (Prestige 7059, 1952)

# Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet (Prestige 7029, 1953)

# Django (Prestige 7057, 1953)

# Concorde (Prestige 7005, 1955)

# The Modern Jazz Quartet Reunion at Budokan 1981 (Pablo 2308-243, 1981)

# Together Again/Modern Jazz Quartet Love at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1982 (Pablo 2308-244, 1982)

# "Echoes" The Modern Jazz Quartet 1984--Together Again (Pablo 2312-142, 1984

# "Topsy" This One's for Basie (Pablo 2310-917, 1985)