John Lewis and Sacha Distel – Afternoon in Paris (1957)

Atlantic – 1267Rec. Dates : December 4, 1956, December 7, 1956Stream this Album Piano : John LewisBass : Percy Heath, Pierre MichelotDrums : Kenny Clarke, Connie KayGuitar : Sacha DistelTenor Sax : Barney Wilen American Record Guide : February, 1958Martin Williamson These Paris-made recordings feature young tenor-saxophonist Barney Wilen. His style is yet derivative (at times one has the incongruous feeling that one

Modern Jazz Quartet – Modern Jazz Quartet (1957)

Atlantic – 1265Rec. Date : April 5, 1957Stream this Album Vibes : Milt JacksonBass : Percy HeathDrums : Connie KayPiano : John Lewis Billboard : 07/22/1957Spotlight on… selection Another excellent jazz package from Atlantic, “a characteristic 40-minute set” by MJQ that allows for more solo improvisation than do previous sets for label. Performance of diverse program reaffirms group’s rare integration and

Modern Jazz Sextet – The Modern Jazz Sextet (1956)

Norgran – MGN 1076Rec. Date : April 25, 1955, April 27, 1955Stream this Album Alto Sax : Sonny StittBass : Percy HeathDrums : Charlie PersipGuitar : Skeeter BestPiano : John LewisTrumpet : Dizzy Gillespie Army TimesTom Scanlan : 07/14/1956 Dizzy Gillespie, alto saxophonist Sonny Stitt, and a rhythm section including John Lewis make up the “Modern Jazz Sextet” on a 12-inch LP that will

Modern Jazz Quartet – At Music Inn (1956)

Atlantic – 1247Rec. Date : August 28, 1956Stream this Album Vibes : Milt JacksonBass : Percy HeathClarinet : Jimmy GiuffreDrums : Connie KayPiano : John Lewis Billboard : 12/15/1956Spotlight on… selection This should be still another best-seller for the MJQ. The program is typical, except for the addition, on several tracks, of clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre. The cover is a stunning full-color

Modern Jazz Quartet – Fontessa (1956)

Atlantic – 1231Rec. Dates : January 22, 1956, February 14, 1956Stream this Album Bass : Percy HeathDrums : Connie KayPiano : John LewisVibes : Milt Jackson Billboard : 04/28/1956Spotlight on… selection Atlantic has put its best feet forward by issuing this disk concurrently with the Chris Connor set. Both figure to hit pay dirt right quick, and they’ll draw attention to

Modern Jazz Quartet / Milt Jackson Quintet – MJQ (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7059Rec. Dates : December 22, 1952, June 16, 1954 Vibes : Milt JacksonBass : Percy HeathDrums : Kenny ClarkePiano : John Lewis, Horace SilverTrumpet : Henry Boozier Listening to Prestige : #74, #113Stream this Album Billboard : 01/19/1957Album Cover of the Week Sometimes the simplest design is the most fetching, and this is an example of that principle. The repeated

Modern Jazz Quartet – Django (1956)

Prestige – PRLP 7057Rec. Dates : June 25, 1953, December 23, 1954, January 9, 1955 Vibes : Milt JacksonBass : Percy HeathDrums : Kenny ClarkePiano : John Lewis Listening to Prestige : #89, #130, #135Stream this Album Billboard : 01/19/1957Score of 85 One of the two MJQ re-issue packages available this month, both of which have been remastered and regrouped on 12-inch

James Moody – James Moody’s Moods (1956)

Prestige – PRLP 7056Rec. Dates : September 29, 1954, January 28, 1955, August 24, 1955, December 12, 1955 Tenor Sax, Alto Sax : James MoodyBaritone Sax : Pee Wee MooreBass : John LathanDrums : Clarence JohnsonPiano : Jimmy BoydTrombone : William ShepherdTrumpet : Dave BurnsVocals : Eddie Jefferson Listening to Prestige : #122, #136, #152, #160Album is Not Streamable Liner Notes by Ira Gitler James Moody‘s

Miles Davis – Blue Haze (1956)

Prestige – PRLP 7054Rec. Dates : May 19, 1953, March 15, 1954, April 3, 1954 Trumpet : Miles DavisAlto Sax : Dave SchildkrautBass : Percy HeathDrums : Max Roach, Art Blakey, Kenny ClarkePiano : John Lewis, Charles Mingus, Horace Silver Listening to Prestige: #86, #106, #107Stream this Album Billboard : 10/13/1956Score of 77 Re-mastering by Rudy Van Gelder of some choice sides by Miles Davis and his Quartet

Sonny Rollins – With the Modern Jazz Quartet (1956)

Prestige – PRLP 7029Rec. Dates : January 17, 1951, December 17, 1951, October 7, 1953 Tenor Sax : Sonny RollinsBass : Percy HeathDrums : Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, Kenny ClarkePiano : Miles Davis, Kenny Drew, John LewisVibes : Milt Jackson Listening to Prestige : #39, #55, #94Stream this Album Liner Notes by Ira Gitler Sonny Rollins is rapidly becoming one of the important reed voices of the modern