The MJQ Thread

[stu]

My Modern Jazz Quartet CD collection consists of;
Django.
Concorde.
At Music Inn with Sonny Rollins.
Odds Against Tomorrow.
Plastic Dreams.
Paul Desmond with the MJQ.
Lonely Woman.
Blues On Bach.
Porgy And Bess.
MJQ Scandinavia 1960.MJQ with Jimmy Guiffre a/o.
MJQ The Last Concert.
Modern Jazz Quartet Plus, A compilation on Verve.

[JHC]

stu, I just do not go for any form of jazz mixing with an orchestra, it is a bit like when a classical singer tries to sing jazz it is a completely different discipline and they do not mix, how do you feel?

[stu]

I tend to agree JHC. I feel that a quartet such as the MJQ with it's distinctive sound tends to lose it's identity with an orchestra. Although I enjoy big bands doing their own thing, there are examples such as Nat Cole Trio, George Shearing Quartet, or Oscar Peterson Trio with big bands but it's only where the gaps occur that they have some space to burst through with their own voice.

[stu]

I relistened to the two long MJQ tracks with Miles Davis and Lester Young that I mentioned previously and I have to say that they do no justice to the MJQ. The recording quality really doesn't do them any favours. Plus Milt Jackson gets only 4 BARS! on one track, and only ONE CHORUS on the other! Lester Young (one of my all time favourite jazz story tellers) was at this time on a slow decline and he tends to fall back on repeated phrases. Stuff for completists only I would say. (But, I still love Pres!!)

[Corno Dolce]

JHC speaks truth about MJQ and "cool" - Not a day goes by without hearing at least a track from their output........

[JHC]

In the album I mentioned 'MJQ with The New York Chamber Sym orch' it also does them no justice stu as with Davis and Young that you mention, IMO they had the perfect combination and is still unbeaten today

[stu]

I feel that the MJQ had all the classicism needed within their own ranks, more effectively so than with an orchestra. John Lewis's arrangements for the quartet always give a symphonic feel which can be rendered redundant orchestrally. Also, as a unit they can also swing, no help required, with a great intensity.