The Modern Jazz Quartet

VINYL FORMAT. Although Milt Jackson, John Lewis and Kenny Clarke had been playing together since the mid-forties as the rhythm section for the legendary Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, it was not until 1951, with the addition of Percy Heath, that they became the Modern Jazz Quartet. Although they were very popular, experimenting with many styles, including bebop and cool jazz, they became perhaps best known for their formal presentation (in tuxedo) and choice of venues (concert halls), in a self-professed attempt to make jazz 'serious', like classical music. This stylistic choice starkly contrasted with many of their contemporaries and often the group was criticized for trying to appeal to a white audience. However, one may argue that it was everyone else who was too afraid to break from the 'beatnik' mold. Although their debut LP - released in 1952 as a 10" - is now a classic in jazz, the music still feels very immediate, and features the earliest versions of their best known compositions. This version features extra tracks from the period 1952-1954.