Complete Last Concert

Read About This Recording

The Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) was a jazz institution for 46 years, counting a seven-year vacation. During an era when jazz musicians had a bad image, the MJQ dressed impeccably, showed up on time and played brilliant music that ranged from the blues to Bach, from jazz standards to Third-Stream classical works. The MJQ was one of the first jazz groups to be welcomed consistently to concert halls due to their sophisticated music, yet they could also swing hard too.

Pianist John Lewis, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Kenny Clarke first came together as the rhythm section of the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra in the late 1940s, having occasional features. In 1951, the Milt Jackson Quartet was formed with Lewis, Clarke and bassist Percy Heath (since Brown was unavailable). The following year the group was renamed, Lewis became the band's musical director and the MJQ had its own sound and musical identity. Other than Connie Kay succeeding Clarke as the band's drummer in 1955, there would be no other personnel changes until near the end of the MJQ's existence.

During 1952-74, the Modern Jazz Quartet was one of jazz's most popular groups, becoming a fixture at both jazz festivals and in prestigious venues. Lewis, a superb blues player, often steered the group towards classical-type works while Jackson pulled in the other direction, towards bop and swinging music. In 1974, Milt Jackson, who always had a separate solo career going on (particularly on records), decided to quit the group, resulting in its breakup. A series of concerts that year gained headlines, with the last concert by the MJQ containing some of their most exciting performances.

The double-CD called The Last Concert serves as a retrospective of the MJQ's first 22 years. Among the many highlights are definitive versions of Bags' Groove, Django, Softly As In A Morning Sunrise and The Golden Striker. The musicians all sound quite inspired, knowing that this would be the end, at least for the moment.

Highly recommended.

-Scott Yanow

Product Info

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Contents

Softly As in a Morning Sunrise; The Cylinder; Summertime; Really True Blues; What's New; Blues in A Minor; Confirmation; 'Round Midnight; A Night in Tunisia; Tears From the Children; Blues in H (B); England's Carol; The Golden Striker; One Never Knows; Trav'lin'; Skating in Central Park; The Legendary Profile*; Adagio from the Guitar Concerto: Concerto de Aranjuez*; The Jasmine Tree; In Memoriam; Django; Bags' Groove.

(*Bonus tracks.)

The Modern Jazz Quartet: John Lewis, Piano; Milt Jackson, Vibraharp; Percy Heath, Bass; Connie Kay, Drums.

Live at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, November 25, 1974.