Modern Jazz Quartet

Play Radio
Listen to Modern Jazz Quartet Radio, featuring artists like Milt Jackson, John Lewis, Gerry Mulligan, Horace Silver and more…

923,356 plays (115,480 listeners)

Send Modern Jazz Quartet Ringtones to Cell
Buy
Add to my Library
The Modern Jazz Quartet was formed in 1952 by Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano, musical director), Percy Heath (bass), and Kenny Clarke (drums). Connie Kay replaced Clarke in 1955. Various of the members had played together backing other artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Ray Brown, and in Jackson’s own Quartet.

Through their long existence, they have worked with Classical musicians and are known for incorporating elements of Classical music into jazz, being one of the most notable examples of the style called Third Stream.

The group disbanded in 1974 and reformed in 1981 on a part-time basis, with their last new recording issued in 1993.
Read more… Edit bio

Popular tags: , , , ,  See more

Share this artist:

Top Albums

See more

Top Tracks

1
237
2
63
3
50
4
48
5
47
6
46
7
44
8
43
9
39
10
38
11
35
12
33
13  
31
14
30
15
28
Buy all tracks at Amazon MP3
See more

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).

  • RonZol

    Excellent!

    September 2011

  • Druid66

    My father's turntable spun these guys all the time while I was growing up, so I feel like I know Milt and the fellas a bit.

    August 2011

  • javiikiller

    The vibes are so cool jaja.

    March 2011

  • dabigcheeze

    Shame that these guys aren't more popular; both in real life and on last.fm.

    June 2010

  • Ewpedrao

    They also acknowledge the great moments of the big bands and the master in chief Duke Ellington in the album dedicated to him. Unfortunately, some descriptions like the above are just press release from people who never really heard their work.

    May 2010

  • Ewpedrao

    MJQ is part of a ramification of the bebop era, once some brilliant musicians started to assemble smaller combos, and this was one of the most technical, artistic and innovative sets. The term "Modern" is exactly that tentative to produce new frontiers for jazz. The Atlantic/Rhino Atlantic years produce some of the most innovative and avant garde jazz heard until then, albums like "Piramid", "The Comedy", "Three Windows" are truly remarkable. They never forgot the DNA of Jazz and blues, and the live recordings at the Carneige Hall (The Last Concert, Blues at Carnegie Hall) are masterpieces. The blues verve is noticeable in so many ways, but one of the most interesting is the "tempo" they worked, with inspiring improvisations at heart touching use of silence.

    May 2010

  • Ewpedrao

    Well, it is creepy what they have done in the tags and albums. This is nothing of smooth or cool jazz. Cool Jazz is honestly just the way some romantic but ungroovy guy got their way to play in the East Coast, with all respect and love I have for Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan.

    May 2010

  • radiohead-other

    niesamowite nuty

    January 2010
See all 38 shouts

Videos

Listening Now

Top Listeners

See more

More Information

Labels
Other spellings

Email Newsletter

Universal Music Group Get exclusive tour, release & promotion updates on Modern Jazz Quartet from Universal Music.