Modern Jazz Quartet - Dedicated to Connie CD 1 of 2 (1960) [Jazz

Modern Jazz Quartet - Dedicated to Connie CD 1 of 2
Original Release Date: May 30, 1995
Number of Discs: 2
Format: Live
Label: Atlantic / Wea
Quality: CBR 320 kbps

A May 27, 1960 show in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Unreleased until 1995 after Connie Kay died at the age of 67.

Amazon.com essential recording
This two-disc set was released in 1995 following the death of drummer Connie Kay, and it's a superb commemoration of the Modern Jazz Quartet at their creative peak, a 1960 concert in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from the same tour that produced the equally memorable European Concert. By 1960, the group had gelled superbly, and much of their essential, original repertoire was in place, including John Lewis's composition "Odds Against Tomorrow," the moody and profound theme from a film score, and the light, baroque-influenced pieces "Colombine" and "Pulcinella." What stands out is the acute consciousness of sound, in Kay's sparkling drumming and Percy Heath's warmly resonant bass, as well as Lewis's piano and Milt Jackson's vibraphone. There's a superb economy of means practiced by the entire band, with scarcely a superfluous note in the two hours of music heard here. The treatments of standards are as memorable as the originals. ~ Stuart Broomer

This excellent 2-CD set provides an invaluable record of what the Modern Jazz Quartet sounded like at the height of their powers and under circumstances that must have been close to ideal: performing live in concert before an appreciative but discriminating audience. Fortunately, they were also blessed, on this occasion, with very good acoustics and a talented recording engineer. The resulting document is monaural, but it has terrific clarity, warmth, and presence.

All in all, this is probably the best representation of what the Modern Jazz Quartet was all about that is currently available. ("European Concert," which was recorded during the same tour, is also extremely good, though not quite as comprehensive; unfortunately, it is currently out of print.) ~ Buddy Bolden

Personnel: Milt Jackson ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ vibraphone
John Lewis - piano
Percy Heath - bass
Connie Kay - Drums

Modern Jazz Quartet - Dedicated to Connie CD 1 of 2 Tracks:
01 The Little Comedy/La Cantatrice/Harlequin/Fontessa ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 23:05
02 ΓΓé¼╦£Round Midnight ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 4:09
03 The Cylinder ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 6:02
04 BagsΓΓé¼Γäó Groove ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 5:28
05 Odds Against Tomorrow ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 8:12
06 It DonΓΓé¼Γäót Mean a Thing (If It AinΓΓé¼Γäót Got That Swing) ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 5:13
07 A Social Call ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 4:52

Modern Jazz Quartet - Dedicated to Connie CD 2 of 2 Tracks:
01 Django ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 4:40
02 I Should Care ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 6:14
03 How High the Moon ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 7:51
04 Colombine/Pulcinella ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 9:22
05 Spanish Steps ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 4:08
06 Pyramid (Blues for Junior) ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 10:41
07 Milt Meets Sid ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 3:40
08 I Remember Clifford ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 6:03
09 Vendome ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 2:42
10 Skating in Central Park ΓΓé¼ΓÇ£ 6:10