Four Classic Albums

The MJQ was a landmark group. Some of the tracks on this collection are not robust enough for jazz fans who like to swing, and the sound quality is not always first-rate. But it is a good recap of what the MJQ was all about, and it's always a pleasure to hear Milt Jackson's work. I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing him and then going out to hear him play in a San Francisco club. Lovely guy, great player.

Caveat, I don't review often.The MJQ were really my intro to modern modal jazz, back in the early 1970's. This recording is from a decent master tape, and includes four albums from the early - mid 1950's where the artistry of the Milt Jackson / John Lewis core of the MJQ was coming together.I'm thrilled to add these to my growing jazz collection.

WOW. Was this "Four Classic Albums" cd of MJQ a real buy on amazon.com. In all my 55 years of music collections on LP Record Albums and now on CD's I have never owned any recordings by THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET. I selected this multiple album set because it received mostly 4 and 5 star ratings on amazon by previous owners. Recording is quite good considering it is re-mastered from analog tapes probably from back in the early 1960's era. I highly recommend this multiple cd set for those jazz aficionados who are looking for exemplary work by the MJQ during their heydays.

The recording or re-mastering on this CD is really fine. First heard some MJQ many many years ago, including Django. It is great to find that, along with lots more of this smooth, mellow group. I am not a jazz person, so don't know the proper way to describe the sound. It is lively, but cool, actually musical sounding, as opposed to loud crashing drums and such that is popular these days. This is music you can set to play while you do various things and it doesn't demand your attention. It just keeps you company and "in a comfortable place", with some joy and sparkle but no intrusion. At least that is my take.

The title of this compiliation is accurate. 4 CLASSIC albums that you can listen to endless times without them becoming stale or repetitive - Django is a personal favorite. If you are missing some of these from your collection, then it's almost impossible to pass up this CD at its price - even in these hard-budget times. If you have never heard anything by the MJQ, you are in for a revelation. Add to these their Third Stream album and you will not fail to embark on a quest of obtaining other MJQ albums.

Wonderful collection of MJQ recordings.

These two CDs are the best ever. A friend introduced me to this music on a long road trip. I couldn't get over my toes tapping & humming along. I had to own some of my own CDs. These two were a guess, but turned out to become my favorites.

the music was as expected but the cd case hinge was broken completely off. probably not enough padding for the long trip from England to its final destination in the states.

Out of Cool jazz, the West Coast thing and the beginning of Third Stream in the 50s came a new thing – Chamber Jazz – and the MJQ were perhaps the greatest exponents of the approach; this 2-disc set does indeed contain 4 classic albums from their extensive and distinguished discography.Immensely popular and seriously good, the music is at turns introspective, swinging and highly musical – only the truly churlish could fail to dig this.A word on the remastering – Avid take original LPs as their source (they do not have access to the masters) so what is presented here are unvarnished, original sound albums with as much clean-up as possible - this is how they sounded when originally released, played on good Hi-Fi equipment of the time.Audiophiles seeking the fully remastered sound of some reissues are advised to look at the more expensive discs released by the studios that now own the masters – if they have bothered to release them.We who have long listening experience will be happy just to have these as they are – and this is a very pleasing set all said.The CDs have playing times of 79.34 minutes and 77.44 minutes – shame there are no sound samples available – they were there when I bought this set.

Four albums here. The first from the early days of the MJQ (1953) then three later albums from 1956 and 1957.The earliest CD was released as "Django" and consists of a few recording produced over the period 1953 - 1955, although the earlier 1952 recordings were not on the compilation. This is the original MJQ featuring Kenny Clarke on drums.this is my favourite period of the MJQ, and although the "new" MJQ featuring Connie Kay produced some memorable work the inclusion of Connie Kay changed the sound of the band.Some fine music here, but the sound quality really isn't as good it could be (there have been other criticisms of Avid's remastering, although it hasn't been my general criticism of these releases).The earliest of the remaining albums is "Fontessa" that features a short three piece suite (11 min) which is very baroque in style. This is a good album, then there is The Modern Jazz Quartet at the Music Inn" (1956) that features Jimmy Giuffre on clarinet on three tracks. There is a very fine version of "Two degrees East, Three Degrees West" and a version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". Finally from 1957 the album "The Modern Jazz Quartet" with versions of "Night In Tunisia" and "Bag's Groove".The enclosed booklet is less helpful than is normal.

Although I have come to it late in life, I do enjoy jazz, but found this album/these albums lacking in variety, such that I became bored very quickly. I bought the album after hearing a couple of Modern Jazz Quartet pieces at a jazz club (remember them pre-lockdown?) but this was all too much of a good thing in one place. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with the quality of the recording, I just didn't enjoy the music end-to-end.

I've been fortunate enough to see the MJQ (many years ago) live, on stage. This collection is great and all that I expect from them. It reflects the depths they found, so easily, in pieces of music that we, the listeners, might never suspect to exist. The ultimate demonstration, for and of this, can be found in John Lewis's rewrite of 'God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen'. Much of it is performed by Milt Jackson and, just when you think you've lost the original tune, you'll hear a short reference to it, then it comes back, goes away and returns, teasing its way through the whole thing. Brilliant!

Converted me to Modern Jazz in the 50s from Traditional Jazz. I owe them a 'Big Thank-You. I remember sharing a great couple of hours with Milt and the late George Melly in the downstairs musicians room at Ronnie Scott's club. Brandy's included which George loved. Nice set. I prefer the originals but sometimes these compilations work. This does