"The previously unreleased Modern Jazz Quartet performance from the 1963 Monterey Jazz Festival was first issued in this 1998 CD. The MJQ (vibraphonist Milt Jackson, pianist John Lewis, bassist Percy Heath and drummer Connie Kay) is heard in typically fine form performing a few standards (including "Mean To Me" and "Bags' Groove"), and a couple of obscurities (Ray Brown's "Pyramid" and Lewis' "Winter Tale") before an appreciative audience. The MJQ always had a timeless sound; their 1963 program does not differ stylistically much from 1958 or 1968, but neither does it sound dated. Easily recommended to fans of the classic group." (Allmusic).
"Clifford Brown was incredibly influential for someone who died so young. The Fats Navarro-minded trumpeter was only 25 when a car accident claimed his life in 1956, but his influence remained: Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Woody Shaw, Donald Byrd, and Carmell Jones were among the many trumpet titans who were heavily influenced by Brown. In the early to mid-'50s, Brown kept getting more and more exciting, year by year. That means that when it comes to Brown's CDs, excellent doesn't necessarily mean essential. Recorded in 1953, the material on this 18-track CD isn't quite as essential as some of Brown's work with drummer Max Roach in 1954 and 1955, but is still superb. The trumpet icon is heard at two different sessions. Brown's solos are consistently expressive; he swings unapologetically hard on up-tempo fare, but is quite lyrical on the ballads. One thing all of the performances have in common is a strong Fats Navarro influence." (Alex Henderson, Allmusic)
Allmusic over "The Modern Jazz Sextet" (1956): "Producer Norman Granz always loved jam sessions; it did not take too much insight to realize that putting trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and altoist Sonny Stitt together would result in some explosive music. Bebop at its best." Over "Nu Sun In Venice" (1957): "Six John Lewis compositions that were used in the French film 'No Sun In Venice'. The music is quite complex and disciplined. These thought-provoking performances reward repeated listenings." Over "Grand Encounter" (1956): "This classic session is the ultimate in cool jazz. Bill Perkins' mellow tenor saxophone tone matches quite well with the quiet but inwardly passionate playing of John Lewis (p), Jim Hall (g), Percy Heath (b), and Chico Hamilton (d)." "Concert Of Conteporary Music" is een gelegenheidsconcert 'supervised by John Lewis', met o.a. Stan Getz en J.J. Johnson die zijn composities spelen; "At The Opera House" (1957) is de MJQ-helft van een split-LP met het Oscar Peterson Trio.
Eerste samenwerking, uit 1953, van Winding en Johnson, dat een vrij beroemd trombone-duo zou worden, dat in eerste instantie maar vrij kort bestond (twee jaar), maar nog meer faam kreeg door de diverse latere reunieën. Hier blijkt dat men echter met nóg twee trombonisten aanving. En het wordt nog leuker met de top-ritmesectie: naast drummer Arthur Taylor zijn dat namelijk pianist John Lewis (een van z'n zeldzame opnamen buiten The Monder Jazz Quartet om) en bassist Charles Mingus. Deze tot één tot de rand gevulde CD samengevoegde sessie verscheen nl. als twee albums op Mingus' eigen Debut Records, waarop tussen 1952 en 1957 een breed scala aan bebop-gerelateerde albums verschenen (en waarop hij ook zijn eigen leider-debuut maakte). Het resultaat is opwindende bebop, waarbij de heren elkaar constant opjutten (wat ook duidelijk te horen is). "Outstanding reissue of superb 1953 four-trombone summit." (Ron Wynn, Allmusic)
Onze website en deze zoekfunctie is vernieuwd en we werken er op dit moment hard aan om de laatste puntjes op de i te zetten. Mis je bepaalde functionaliteiten, dan vind je hieronder tijdelijk nog de link naar oude zoekfunctie.
