John Lewis
The musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet for its entire history, John Lewis found the perfect outlet for his interest in bop, blues, and Bach. Possessor of a "cool" piano style that (like Count Basie's) makes every note count, Lewis with the MJQ has long helped make jazz look respectable to the classical music community without watering down his performances.
After serving in the military, Lewis was in the Dizzy Gillespie big band (1946-1948). He recorded with Charlie Parker during 1947-1948 (including "Parker's Mood"), and played with Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool Nonet, arranging "Move" and "Rouge." He worked with Illinois Jacquet (1948-1949) and Lester Young (1950-1951), and appeared on many recordings during the era. In 1951, Lewis recorded with the Milt Jackson Quartet which by 1952 became the Modern Jazz Quartet. Lewis' musical vision was fulfilled with the MJQ and he composed many pieces, with "Django" being the best-known. In addition to constantly touring with the MJQ during 1952-1974, Lewis wrote the film scores to Odds Against Tomorrow, No Sun in Venice, and A Milanese Story, recorded as a leader (including the 1956 cool classic "Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West," collaborations with Gunther Schuller, and records with Svend Asmussen and Albert Mangelsdorff), and worked with Orchestra U.S.A. in the mid-'60s. When the MJQ broke up in 1974, Lewis worked as an educator and occasionally recorded as a leader. With the MJQ's rebirth in 1981, he has resumed his former role as its guiding spirit until his death in 2001. Most of Lewis' own projects were recorded for Atlantic.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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The Modern Jazz Quartet at Music Inn (Remastered)
John Lewis, Modern Jazz Quartet
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 22 Sep 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Orchestra U.S.A. The Debut Recording
Jazz - Released by Lone Hill Jazz on 1 Jan 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Early Years: Before The MJQ 1946-52
Jazz - Released by ACROBAT on 1 Apr 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Afternoon In Paris
Jazz - Released by Red Cab Records on 1 Jan 1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Little Girl Blue
Jazz - Released by Chameleon Archive on 15 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The John Lewis Piano (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 22 Sep 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Blues For Bird
Jazz - Released by Firefly Entertainment on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Greatest Hits Collection
Pop - Released by Music Manager on 22 Apr 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Is Bach!
Johnny Bach & The Moonshine Boozers, John Lewis
Rockabilly - Released by El Toro Records on 12 Jul 2018
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Afternoon in Paris
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Poppydisc on 2 Dec 1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Abstractions
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on 28 Sep 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Improvised Meditations & Excursions + John Lewis Presents Contemporary Music: Jazz Abstractions
Jazz - Released by Heart & Soul Records on 1 Dec 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Ze Best - John Lewis
Jazz - Released by Media Touch on 24 Jan 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Jazz Masters
Bebop - Released by Master Classics Records on 1 Oct 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Wonderful World of Jazz (Mono Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Wonderful World of Jazz
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Complete Albums Collection: 1957 - 1962
Classical - Released by ENLIGHTENMENT on 16 Jun 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo