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Spanning one of the few transitional periods for the Modern Jazz Quartet when Connie Kay replaced Kenny Clarke as the group's drummer, The Artistry of the Modern Jazz Quartet covers the years from 1952-1955. By this point in the group's career, John Lewis was largely overseeing the quartet's repertoire, penning the bulk of the original material. Indeed, on The Artistry Of, the pianist contributes six compositions to Milt Jackson's one (the excellent "Ralph's New Blues"). The set is balanced out by renditions of the most common of jazz standards in "Almost Like Falling in Love," "I'll Remember April," and "In a Sentimental Mood," and the work of more contemporary artists like Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Rollins. Though the chops of each member are undeniable, the performances are, for the most part, rather reserved, placing technique and group coordination above strong emotion. Lewis' "La Ronde" was an early favorite, and it's easy to see why. Here the all-rhythm lineup is completely locked in, particularly the drums and vibes, and the head packs a punch lacking on much of the material. Jackson balances restraint and umph! on a memorable solo while Lewis responds with excellent bopisms on piano. Two songs later, however, the group are strolling through the awkward "The Queen's Fancy," a composition whose overly sentimental melody line, complete with regal undertones, has faired less well over time. More impressive are readings of "Rose of the Rio Grande" and Lewis' "Delaunay's Dilemma." In 1951, the MJQ had backed Sonny Rollins on a Prestige date, and The Artistry Of finds the saxophonist repaying the favor, lending prime solos to a handful of cuts including his own "The Stopper" and "No Moe." In the end, this album is a fine introduction to the sound and sensibility of the MJQ.
© Nathan Bush /TiVo
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Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist
℗ 1956 Fantasy, Inc.
Harry Warren, ComposerLyricist - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - EDGAR LESLIE, ComposerLyricist - Ross Gorman, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1953 Fantasy, Inc.
Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist
℗ 1953 Prestige Records, Inc.
Rudy Van Gelder, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Composer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Doug Hawkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Weinstock, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Ira Gitler, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1953 Fantasy, Inc.
Irving Mills, ComposerLyricist - Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Manny Kurtz, ComposerLyricist - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Sonny Rollins, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ira Gitler, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1951 Prestige Records, Inc.
Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Sonny Rollins, Composer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ira Gitler, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1951 Fantasy, Inc.
Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Frederick Loewe, ComposerLyricist - Alan Jay Lerner, ComposerLyricist - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Sonny Rollins, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ira Gitler, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1951 Fantasy, Inc.
Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Sonny Rollins, Composer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ira Gitler, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1951 Fantasy, Inc.
Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Composer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Bob Weinstock, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Ira Gitler, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1953 Prestige Records, Inc.
RAY BROWN, ComposerLyricist - Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Dizzy Gillespie, ComposerLyricist - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Gil Fuller, ComposerLyricist - Bob Weinstock, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Ira Gitler, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1953 Fantasy, Inc.
Rudy Van Gelder, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Clarke, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Bob Weinstock, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - Ira Gitler, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1953 Prestige Records, Inc.
Connie Kay, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Bob Weinstock, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1955 Fantasy, Inc.
Connie Kay, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Gene De Paul, Composer - Don Raye, Composer - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Patricia Johnston, Composer - Bob Weinstock, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1955 Fantasy, Inc.
Connie Kay, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Bob Weinstock, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel - van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1955 Fantasy, Inc.
Connie Kay, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Oscar Hammerstein II , ComposerLyricist - Sigmund Romberg, ComposerLyricist - Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Milt Jackson, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Heath, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - The Modern Jazz Quartet, MainArtist - Bob Weinstock, Recording Supervisor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1955 Fantasy, Inc.
Album review
Spanning one of the few transitional periods for the Modern Jazz Quartet when Connie Kay replaced Kenny Clarke as the group's drummer, The Artistry of the Modern Jazz Quartet covers the years from 1952-1955. By this point in the group's career, John Lewis was largely overseeing the quartet's repertoire, penning the bulk of the original material. Indeed, on The Artistry Of, the pianist contributes six compositions to Milt Jackson's one (the excellent "Ralph's New Blues"). The set is balanced out by renditions of the most common of jazz standards in "Almost Like Falling in Love," "I'll Remember April," and "In a Sentimental Mood," and the work of more contemporary artists like Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Rollins. Though the chops of each member are undeniable, the performances are, for the most part, rather reserved, placing technique and group coordination above strong emotion. Lewis' "La Ronde" was an early favorite, and it's easy to see why. Here the all-rhythm lineup is completely locked in, particularly the drums and vibes, and the head packs a punch lacking on much of the material. Jackson balances restraint and umph! on a memorable solo while Lewis responds with excellent bopisms on piano. Two songs later, however, the group are strolling through the awkward "The Queen's Fancy," a composition whose overly sentimental melody line, complete with regal undertones, has faired less well over time. More impressive are readings of "Rose of the Rio Grande" and Lewis' "Delaunay's Dilemma." In 1951, the MJQ had backed Sonny Rollins on a Prestige date, and The Artistry Of finds the saxophonist repaying the favor, lending prime solos to a handful of cuts including his own "The Stopper" and "No Moe." In the end, this album is a fine introduction to the sound and sensibility of the MJQ.
© Nathan Bush /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 01:03:33
- Main artists: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Prestige
- Genre: Jazz
© 1986 Prestige Records This Compilation ℗ 1986 Prestige Records
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