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Music Talks > 2016 Winter/Spring
 
Wednesday 4 May 2016 (7 to 8 pm - Open to all)
 

Presenter: Akram Najjar
 
Work: An Evening with the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ)
 
Language: English
 

Piano: John Lewis
 
Vibes: Milt Jackson
 
Bass: Percy Heath
 
Drums: Connie Kay
 


 
Anyone who is “alienated” from Modern Jazz should start here. This event is a presentation of a large number of Video Clips featuring the smooth, highly texture modern jazz fabric of the MJQ. Some of the clips will show the MJQ with other artists . . . .
 

 
The above (with Ray Brown in the place of Percy Heath) first came together as the rhythm section of the 1946 Dizzy Gillespie & His Orchestra and they had occasional features that gave the overworked brass players a well-deserved rest. They next came together in 1951, recording as the Milt Jackson Quartet.
 

In 1952, with Percy Heath taking Brown's place (because Ray Brown was married to Ella Fitzgerald and was touring with her), the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) became a permanent group. Other than Connie Kay succeeding Clarke in 1955, the band's personnel was set. In the early days Jackson and Lewis both were equally responsible for the group's musical direction but the pianist eventually took over as musical director.
 

The MJQ has long displayed John Lewis' musical vision, making jazz seem respectable by occasionally interacting with classical ensembles and playing concerts at prestigious venues, but always leaving plenty of space for bluesy and swinging improvising.
 

Their repertoire, in addition to including veteran bop and swing pieces, introduced such originals as Lewis' "Django" and Jackson's "Bags' Groove." The group recorded for Prestige (1952-55), Atlantic (1956-74), Verve (1957), United Artists (1959) and Apple (1967-69) and, in addition to the many quartet outings, they welcomed such guests as Jimmy Giuffre, Sonny Rollins, the Beaux Arts String Quartet, a symphony orchestra conducted by Gunther Schuller, singer Diahann Carroll (on one piece), Laurindo Almeida, a big band and the Swingle Singers. Although the musicians all had opportunities to pursue individual projects, in 1974 Milt Jackson, tired of the constant touring and the limitations set on his improvising and he quit the group, causing the MJQ to have a final tour and break up. In 1981 Jackson relented and the Modern Jazz Quartet (which has recorded further albums for Pablo and Atlantic) became active again although on a more part-time basis. Connie Kay's health began to fade in the early '90s (Mickey Roker often filled in for him) and after his death in 2001, Albert "Tootie" Heath became his replacement.
 
 
 

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