CD-Charts Position 1
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Four Classic Albums (The Modern Jazz Quartet/Django/Fontessa/The Modern Jazz Quartet At Music Inn)

by: Modern Jazz Quartet

Release Date June 30, 2008
I'm not sure why the decision was taken to ignore chronological sequence, but CD 1 kicks off with the group-titled April 1957 album, before regressing to the earlier "Django", noteworthy for the four-part "La Ronde Suite" and for drummer Kenny Clarke's last studio appearance with the quartet. The second CD contains two 1956 albums; the earlier stately "Fontessa" which drew inspiration from the improvised form of the Renaissance commedia dell'arte, and the August "Music Inn" session at which clarinettist Jimmy Giuffre guested on three tracks. This is essentially cerebral music, appreciation of which is aided by the crisp and clear remastering. A considerable bargain.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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No Sun In Venice

by: Modern Jazz Quartet

Release Date July 01, 1991
I'm not sure why the decision was taken to ignore chronological sequence, but CD 1 kicks off with the group-titled April 1957 album, before regressing to the earlier "Django", noteworthy for the four-part "La Ronde Suite" and for drummer Kenny Clarke's last studio appearance with the quartet. The second CD contains two 1956 albums; the earlier stately "Fontessa" which drew inspiration from the improvised form of the Renaissance commedia dell'arte, and the August "Music Inn" session at which clarinettist Jimmy Giuffre guested on three tracks. This is essentially cerebral music, appreciation of which is aided by the crisp and clear remastering. A considerable bargain.

CD-Charts Position 3
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The Last Concert

by: Modern Jazz Quartet

Release Date May 29, 1995
This was actually one of the first (proper) jazz records I ever heard and I have recently bought it on CD. The MJQ were a strange outfit because many thought the format wouldn,t work (no horns, two similar sounding instruments - vibes and piano, playing Bach! and Christmas carols!!). However, my recent listening of this lovely recording only serves to reinforce the thoughts I had when I first heard it. These guys can swing but they do it with such an effortless grace that you actually feel yourself moving along with them. The CD also contains some classic jazz standards (Round Midnight, Night in Tunisia) that listeners new to jazz will find accessible - Night in Tunisia is my all time favourite example of pianist John Lewis's effortless ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Complete Recordings

by: Modern Jazz Quartet & Jimmy Giuffre

Release Date December 05, 2005
I've had most of this CD on disc for many years under the title of Sundance which came out on Atlantic in the early sixties. At last most of that title is now available on CD.
I can't put my finger on why I personally love this recording, it was probably one of the first albums I bought, so its ingrained in me. MJQ were really cool in the sixties and I bought it for their name on the cover but Jimmy Giuffre really adds something just as
Sonny Rollins did on the companion CD. I was fortunate to find myself in Lennox in Massachusetts a few years ago and went on a pilgrimage to find out if anything still stands of the Music Inn. It does, just, but is now sadly a housing complex!
Take time out for this CD and let it do its work, its ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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The Best of the Modern Jazz Quartet

by: Modern Jazz Quartet

Release Date November 15, 1991
Reviewer: Alejandra Vernon "www.avernon.com" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews

There is an elegance and streamlined purity to this marvelous compilation of cuts from two albums. Three tracks are from "Together Again", recorded in 1984: # 2, "Connie's Blues" and # 6, "Echoes" both by Milt Jackson, and # 7, bassist Percy Heath's "The Watergate Blues".
Four tracks have been culled from "Topsy: This One's for Basie" recorded in 1985: # 1, "Valeria" and # 3, "Le Cannet", both by John Lewis, # 4, Jackson's "Reunion Blues", and # 5, the great theme song from the film "The Boy with Green Hair" and hit for Nat King Cole, "Nature Boy" (Eden-Ahbez), here featuring a simple but luminous rendition by Jackson.

This ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Introducing the Modern Jazz Quartet

by: Modern Jazz Quartet

Release Date July 31, 2006
Reviewer: Alejandra Vernon "www.avernon.com" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews

There is an elegance and streamlined purity to this marvelous compilation of cuts from two albums. Three tracks are from "Together Again", recorded in 1984: # 2, "Connie's Blues" and # 6, "Echoes" both by Milt Jackson, and # 7, bassist Percy Heath's "The Watergate Blues".
Four tracks have been culled from "Topsy: This One's for Basie" recorded in 1985: # 1, "Valeria" and # 3, "Le Cannet", both by John Lewis, # 4, Jackson's "Reunion Blues", and # 5, the great theme song from the film "The Boy with Green Hair" and hit for Nat King Cole, "Nature Boy" (Eden-Ahbez), here featuring a simple but luminous rendition by Jackson.

This ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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A Proper Introduction to the Modern Jazz Quartet: La Ronde

by: Modern Jazz Quartet

Release Date March 06, 2006
Reviewer: Alejandra Vernon "www.avernon.com" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews

There is an elegance and streamlined purity to this marvelous compilation of cuts from two albums. Three tracks are from "Together Again", recorded in 1984: # 2, "Connie's Blues" and # 6, "Echoes" both by Milt Jackson, and # 7, bassist Percy Heath's "The Watergate Blues".
Four tracks have been culled from "Topsy: This One's for Basie" recorded in 1985: # 1, "Valeria" and # 3, "Le Cannet", both by John Lewis, # 4, Jackson's "Reunion Blues", and # 5, the great theme song from the film "The Boy with Green Hair" and hit for Nat King Cole, "Nature Boy" (Eden-Ahbez), here featuring a simple but luminous rendition by Jackson.

This ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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Compact Jazz: Modern Jazz Quartet Plus

by: The Modern Jazz Quartet

Release Date October 25, 1990
Reviewer: Alejandra Vernon "www.avernon.com" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews

There is an elegance and streamlined purity to this marvelous compilation of cuts from two albums. Three tracks are from "Together Again", recorded in 1984: # 2, "Connie's Blues" and # 6, "Echoes" both by Milt Jackson, and # 7, bassist Percy Heath's "The Watergate Blues".
Four tracks have been culled from "Topsy: This One's for Basie" recorded in 1985: # 1, "Valeria" and # 3, "Le Cannet", both by John Lewis, # 4, Jackson's "Reunion Blues", and # 5, the great theme song from the film "The Boy with Green Hair" and hit for Nat King Cole, "Nature Boy" (Eden-Ahbez), here featuring a simple but luminous rendition by Jackson.

This ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Pyramid

by: Modern Jazz Quartet

Release Date September 01, 2003
Reviewer: Alejandra Vernon "www.avernon.com" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews

There is an elegance and streamlined purity to this marvelous compilation of cuts from two albums. Three tracks are from "Together Again", recorded in 1984: # 2, "Connie's Blues" and # 6, "Echoes" both by Milt Jackson, and # 7, bassist Percy Heath's "The Watergate Blues".
Four tracks have been culled from "Topsy: This One's for Basie" recorded in 1985: # 1, "Valeria" and # 3, "Le Cannet", both by John Lewis, # 4, Jackson's "Reunion Blues", and # 5, the great theme song from the film "The Boy with Green Hair" and hit for Nat King Cole, "Nature Boy" (Eden-Ahbez), here featuring a simple but luminous rendition by Jackson.

This ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Blues on Bach

by: Modern Jazz Quartet

Release Date March 14, 1993
Reviewer: Alejandra Vernon "www.avernon.com" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews

There is an elegance and streamlined purity to this marvelous compilation of cuts from two albums. Three tracks are from "Together Again", recorded in 1984: # 2, "Connie's Blues" and # 6, "Echoes" both by Milt Jackson, and # 7, bassist Percy Heath's "The Watergate Blues".
Four tracks have been culled from "Topsy: This One's for Basie" recorded in 1985: # 1, "Valeria" and # 3, "Le Cannet", both by John Lewis, # 4, Jackson's "Reunion Blues", and # 5, the great theme song from the film "The Boy with Green Hair" and hit for Nat King Cole, "Nature Boy" (Eden-Ahbez), here featuring a simple but luminous rendition by Jackson.

This ... Read More: