It's been about eight and a half years since I put some Milt Jackson on this blog. Looking at that post now I see a notice on the square where the video should be telling me that it's unavailable. On the internet, as in life, pleasures are often ephemeral.
Anyway, this is the Modern Jazz Quartet, and they seem to like what they do.
2 comments:
Skill, genius, along with ongoing mutual inspiration, John Lewis, Milt Jackson, Percy Heath and Connie Kay were a treasure.
As a reviewer more articulate that me once said: Their combination of piano, vibraphone, bass and drums gave the MJQ an instantly recognisable sparse sound that was hugely influential. The absence of brass or saxophones concentrated attention on John Lewis's piano and Milt Jackson's vibes. The two complemented each other beautifully, indulging in call-and-response and creating interweaving melody lines.
Thanks for choosing this particular piece. It makes me wish there was still such sophistication and discernment loose in the world.
Some supreme talents individually, and when they got together they were a force to be reckoned with.
"Sparse" is an apt word for their sound. There had been orchestras in jazz before them, perhaps most notably the one led by Duke Ellington. But they delivered something a little different: a small chamber group, creating delicate tone poems.
I'm glad you enjoyed. And i hope for a renaissance.
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