John Lewis was a jazz pianist best-known for his work as founder member and musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet.
Famous for blending elements of classical music with individual and ensemble improvisation in a refined chamber style of jazz, the music of the MJQ was in many ways the culmination of the development of Lewis’ musical ideas during the five years of his professional career before that quartet came together. Working with some of the most influential and notable names in jazz during the bebop era, Lewis was classically-trained as a child.
While serving in World War Two he met drummer Kenny Clarke who suggested he moved to New York once their service was over. On moving to The Big Apple, Clarke introduced him to Dizzy Gillespie and Lewis successfully auditioned for the trumpeter’s band in 1945.
This 75-track set includes recordings made over the next six years or so with ensembles led by Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Milt Jackson, Illinois Jacquet, J.J. Johnson, Lester Young, and Zoot Sims. It features many landmark sessions that are, without exaggeration, among the most significant in the entire history of modern jazz.
As well as those aforementioned leaders, it includes performances with the likes of Max Roach, Kenny Clarke, Ray Brown, Sonny Rollins, Chano Pozo, Kai Winding, Sonny Stitt, Curly Russell, Lee Konitz, Jo Jones, Percy Heath and many more.
Lewis, who was influenced by the arranging style of Count Basie, played with a tone quality that made listeners feel as though every note was deliberate. His contributions on the recordings presented here underline his understated, but masterful, approach to jazz.
TRACKS
Disc 1 |
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1 |
Milestones |
Miles Davis All Stars |
2
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Little Willie Leaps |
Miles Davis All Stars |
3 |
Half Nelson |
Miles Davis All Stars |
4 |
Sippin' At Bell's |
Miles Davis All Stars |
5 |
Two Bass Hit |
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra |
6 |
Bobbin' With Robin [Baggy's Blues] |
Milt Jackson & His All Stars |
7 |
Slits |
Milt Jackson & His All Stars |
8 |
Baggy Eyes |
Milt Jackson & His All Stars |
9 |
Barbados |
Charlie Parker's All Stars |
10 |
Ah-Leu-Cha |
Charlie Parker's All Stars |
11 |
Constellation |
Charlie Parker's All Stars |
12 |
Parker's Mood |
Charlie Parker's All Stars |
13 |
Perhaps |
Charlie Parker's All Stars |
14 |
Marmaduke |
Charlie Parker's All Stars |
15 |
Steeplechase |
Charlie Parker's All Stars |
16 |
Merry-Go-Round |
Charlie Parker's All Stars |
17 |
Move |
Miles Davis And His Orchestra |
18 |
Budo |
Miles Davis And His Orchestra |
19 |
Big Foot |
Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra |
20 |
Black Velvet |
Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra |
21 |
Adam's Alley |
Illinois Jacquet And His Orchestra |
22 |
Venus De Milo |
Miles Davis And His Orchestra |
23 |
Rouge |
Miles Davis And His Orchestra |
24 |
Boplicity |
Miles Davis And His Orchestra |
25 |
Audobahn [Audubon] |
Jay Jay Johnson's Boppers |
26 |
Don't Blame Me |
Jay Jay Johnson's Boppers |
Disc 2 |
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Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Goof Square |
Jay Jay Johnson's Boppers |
2 |
Bee Jay |
Jay Jay Johnson's Boppers |
3 |
Elysee |
Jay Jay Johnson's Boppers |
4 |
Opus V |
Jay Jay Johnson's Boppers |
5 |
Hilo |
Jay Jay Johnson's Boppers |
6 |
Afternoon In Paris |
J.J. Johnson |
7 |
Elora |
J.J. Johnson |
8 |
Teapot |
J.J. Johnson |
9 |
Blue Mode |
J.J. Johnson |
10 |
Deception |
Miles Davis And His Orchestra |
11 |
Rocker |
Miles Davis And His Orchestra |
12 |
Moon Dreams |
Miles Davis And His Orchestra |
13 |
Three Little Words |
Lester Young Quartet |
14 |
Count Every Star |
Lester Young Quartet |
15 |
It All Depends On You |
Lester Young Quartet |
16 |
Jeepers Creepers |
Lester Young Quartet |
17 |
My Silent Love |
Zoot Sims |
18 |
Jane-O |
Zoot Sims |
19 |
Dancing In The Dark |
Zoot Sims |
20 |
Memories Of You |
Zoot Sims |
21 |
Thou Swell |
Lester Young Quartet |
22 |
September In The Rain |
Lester Young Quartet |
23 |
Undercover Girl Blues [Undercover Blues] |
Lester Young Quartet |
24 |
Frenesi |
Lester Young Quartet |
Disc 3 |
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Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Little Pee Blues |
Lester Young Quartet |
2 |
Morpheus |
Miles Davis Sextet |
3 |
Down |
Miles Davis Sextet |
4 |
The Blue Room |
Miles Davis Sextet |
5 |
Whispering |
Miles Davis Sextet |
6 |
A Foggy Day |
Lester Young Quartet |
7 |
Let's Fall In Love |
Lester Young Quartet |
8 |
Down 'N' Adam |
Lester Young Quartet |
9 |
Lester Swings |
Lester Young Quartet |
10 |
Si Si |
Charlie Parker Quintet |
11 |
Swedish Schnapps |
Charlie Parker Quintet |
12 |
Back Home Blues |
Charlie Parker Quintet |
13 |
Lover Man |
Charlie Parker Quintet |
14 |
Milt Meets Sid |
Milt Jackson Quartet |
15 |
D & E |
Milt Jackson Quartet |
16 |
Yesterdays |
Milt Jackson Quartet |
17 |
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea |
Milt Jackson Quartet |
18 |
Autumn Breeze |
Milt Jackson Quartet |
19 |
Bluesology |
Milt Jackson Quartet |
20 |
'Round Midnight ['Round About Midnight] |
Milt Jackson Quartet |
21 |
Movin' Nicely [Moving Nicely] |
Milt Jackson Quartet |
22 |
Tahiti |
Milt Jackson Quartet |
23 |
Lillie |
Milt Jackson Quartet |
24 |
Bags' Groove |
Milt Jackson Quartet |
25 |
What's New ? |
Milt Jackson Quartet |