One of the longest standing bands, the Modern Jazz Quartet of John Lewis/p, Milt Jackson/vib, Percy Heath/b and either Kenny Clarke or Connie Kay/dr distinctly melded bebop with baroque-styled harmonics that appealed to fans worldwide. They had a unique appeal in which they made music sophisticated enough for the cerebral music fan as well as the bluesiest of toe tappers. This two disc set finds them in their earliest years, initially as on offshoot of Dizzy Gillespie’s big band, and finally as their one unique unit.
The original band with the bop drummer pioneer Kenny Clarke started things off with material ranging from the bebop master “One Bass Hit” to the irresistible blues groove of “Django.” Vibist Milt Jackson provided the gospel soul, John Lewis added the classical polish, Heath the pulse and Clarke the bebop to pieces such as “All The Things You Are” and the lithe “Vendome.” A four part “La Ronde Suite” has each member stretching out over the Givenchy theme. When Connie Kay replaced Clark in 1955, the quartet became more subtle, while still showing some muscle on “Woody’n You”, but veering more towards pastels of impressionism as on “Concorde” and “Fontessa.” The subtle and cerebral interplay between the four gents is on grand display on “Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West” and their ability to still delve into the blues was a subtle charm as on “Oh, Bess, Oh Where’s My Bess?” and “Bluesology.” This team brought jazz to the tuxedo dressed, and they wore it well.