Comments on: MODERN JAZZ QUARTET / “Django”

By: Qawi Robinson

Qawi Robinson — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:54:25 +0000

Hey Mtume…I’ll give you credit for the half classical, half-cartoon music crack (especially if you listened to the orchestration of the old Tom n’ Jerry), but this group is pretty decent. Expecially where vibes are concerned. As sue ross said, “First, Mtume, vibes can swing, from Lionel Hampton to Milt Jackson, Roy Ayres, and today’s youngbloods like Stefon Harris. But Milt is supreme, and much bluesier.” Ditto. Vibes can swing. Vibes are funky. Vibes are soulful too. Vibes even do Reggae (and I’m not talking about steel drums either).

My only disappointment to listening to these tracks was that Django. While this is a MJQ classic, the first version I heard was Grant Green’s. While it is a cover, to me it still sounds far better than the original. I guess that is flattery in a sense.

By: sue ross

sue ross — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:58:43 +0000

First, Mtume, vibes can swing, from Lionel Hampton to Milt Jackson, Roy Ayres, and today’s youngbloods like Stefon Harris. But Milt is supreme, and much bluesier, sans MJQ, check out his own albums and his many duo albums like “Bags and Trane”. And guitar – put on anything by Kenny Burrell or the pre-vocal George Benson, add a little Charlie Christian, Joe Pass, Eric Gale, etc.

But I digress, I started to respond on my absolute favorite MJQ album, “Porgy and Bess”. (It’s available on CD, but the CD is poorly re-mastered, and has audible tape hiss). So if you can find a copy of the LP in good condition, sit down and enter into a supreme listening experience. Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” has provided the basis for many many jazz re-interpreetations from “Louis and Ella”, to Miles, Trane, Joe Henderson. And every vocalist worth his or her salt has tried to stamp their imprimatur on a version of “Summertime” – Billie, Nina, Sarah, and Joe Williams with the Basie band, are among my favorites here.
But my all-time favorite remains the MJQ’s – from Milt’s opening notes, this “Summertime” deeply resonates in your soul -a feeling which continues throughout the album.

I can’t remember if you’ve done “Summertime” in your classic or “cover” section, but it is definitely worth a trip down memory lane.

By: Tones

Tones — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 09:30:51 +0000

Great post! Me, I cannot hear ‘Django’ without thinking of Pete Rock’s remix of Jeru The Damaja’s ‘Cant Stop The Prophet.’ This is a remix of Django and one of Pete’s absolute best beats ever, a classic. I don’t have an MP3 handy, but grab it if you can!