Customer Reviews

Complete Modern Jazz Quartet Prestige & Pablo Rec

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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!

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.

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)

A four CD set that spans a jazz band over a thirty three year period would for me usually spell disaster! How can any jazz group sound interesting and vibrant over so many years? There must only be a few good tracks here, right?....and the list of questions would go on, but for the Modern Jazz Quartet (members of whom have not changed in the group for almost thirty years) these are the sorts of questions you do not need to ask!

This CD set is a gem, a master class in a smooth gradually developing and ever widening show of a highly respected(in the jazz world) ensemble of jazz majicians, each in their own right musical masters. For me vibraphonist Milt Jackson is 'the icing on the cake' to this tremendous group.

Oh yeah....the mini booklet with a history of the group including photographs and the understated packaging makes this a must have in any respected jazz library.

Listen to one or two track previews from each CD....if it 'tickles your fancy' buy it, you won't regret it! You'll soon have your favourites but the other tracks will yearn for your ears.

NO DOUBT,EXCELLENT MUSIC!THE ONLY DISADVANTAGE IS THE ORDER OF THE TRACKS BUT ANYWAY THIS IS A STANDARD PROBLEM WITH THE BOXES

This is a great collection of MJQ gigs. Some of the best jazz I've heard.