Modern Jazz Quartet (1957)

The Modern Jazz Quartet | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 2, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1957
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN: B000063NDD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,265 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #25 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > General

Track Listings

1. Medley: They Say It's Wonderful/How Deep Is The Ocean/I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You/My Old Flame/Body And Soul

2. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

3. La Ronde: Drums

4. Night In Tunisia

5. Yesterdays

6. Bags' Groove

7. Baden-Baden

Editorial Reviews

Originally issued on LP in 1957 on Atlantic Records. John Lewis himself said this was one of their best efforts. This album is available for the first time on CD. Remastered. Wounded Bird Records. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An MJQ Classic - Finally on CD!, February 3, 2005

By 

CurtJazz (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Jazz Quartet (1957) (Audio CD)

I agree with the previous reviewer. This is arguably the MJQ's best recording. It is definitely their finest studio effort (and I've heard just about all of them.). This disc served as my introduction to the MJQ as a college student in the early 80's. I was immediately hooked and I wore out a cassette copy that I made and a used LP copy that I found years later. Kudos to Wounded Bird for releasing this on CD before I was too old to hear it! As for the music, it's a great place for anyone to start, whether you are new to jazz, new to the MJQ or just want to add great music to your collection. It includes what for my money is one of the 2 best versions that the MJQ ever recorded of "Bag's Groove", a swinging "Night in Tunisia" and an opening ballad medley that could teach some radio programmers a real lesson about "Quiet Storm". John Lewis also said that this was one of the MJQ's best and who would know better than him (except maybe Milt, Percy and Connie!). If you like your Jazz easy on the ears but not numbing to your brain, pick this up before it disappears again.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff, October 17, 2005

By 

Joost Daalder "Joost Daalder" (South Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Modern Jazz Quartet (1957) (Audio CD)

These tracks were among the first of the MJQ to come my way when I was in my teens, and I still remember the overwhelming impression of a rare beauty they made on me. That beauty has not diminished with time. This is, I feel confident, the kind of music people will still enjoy centuries hence - among the best music of the twentieth century. The tone was always restrained, but never lifeless: the balance was very exact and satisfying. All of the musicians could swing hard when they chose to, but did so without wildness though with plenty of verve and intensity. The music was intelligent and inventive, but driven by plenty of emotion and sensitivity. Pianist Lewis was a most gifted composer and arranger as well as musician. Milt Jackson was among the greatest instrumentalists, on any instrument, of his generation. The other two were also among the best. The coherence achieved was extraordinary - never surpassed, and rarely if ever equalled. Even my parents enjoyed this music, and not because it is not jazz. It for the most part IS jazz, of a totally distinctive kind: there is no replacement, and you will not regret owning this and playing it frequently. - Joost Daalder

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 100x-stars: A Great Disc., July 27, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Modern Jazz Quartet (1957) (Audio CD)

MJQ pianist John Lewis expressed great satisfaction with this disc: it's a well played, well recorded, classic set of MJQ's brand of chamber jazz. Really, this disc vies for top position: it just might be the MJQ's best CD. Good price $$; great sound. Can't go wrong.