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.

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