The Modern Jazz Quartet - Blues on Bach

In the MJQ's early years, critics often found something incompatible between John Lewis's European classical leanings, particularly the baroque, and Milt Jackson's unfettered gifts improvising over bop-blues changes. This 1973 date is structured by that dichotomy, alternating between Lewis's compositions (based on some of Bach's best-known melodies) and a series of original blues, the first three by Lewis, the last by Jackson. Lewis emphasizes the contrast by playing harpsichord on the Bach tunes. His treatment of Bach can drift toward the merely pretty, as in his handling of "Sleepers Awake," but there's a genuine beauty in "Don't Stop This Train" and "Tears from the Children," based on Bach keyboard works. Jackson's fluent solos on the blues are a continuing delight, while Lewis demonstrates once again that he, too, is a musician imbued with the same roots, inserting a telling variation on "St. James Infirmary" into "Blues in A Minor."--Stuart Broomer Amazon.com essential recording

A technical marvel and a real joy

One thing about this album that is perhaps under-recognised is the superb quality of the recording - this is possibly the best recorded double bass sound I've ever heard, and the percussion is crystal clear (perhaps a mixed blessing, depending on one's opinion of how many bells and chime strings are strictly necessary on a couple of the tracks). The key to this album is to approach it with a sense of humour; there is a degree of appropriate respect shown to the Bach material, but once you realise that the superficially "hokey" treatment given to the Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring theme on "Precious Joy" is a colossal musical joke rather than a serious attempt, it really does give you an understanding of the reality behind the rather straight-laced image of the MJQ October 11, 2007

MJQ's Blues on Bach

I bought the CD to replace my vinyl version, which I had not played in years, and I am so pleased to hear again the MJQ's takes on Bach classics alternating with their own compositions. This is a CD that I can listen to over cocktails and dinner as stimulating background music ... or focus on without any distractions to appreciate the artistry of the musicians and arrangements.

If you like the MJQ, this is one of their best albums; Pyramid and Concorde being my other favorites. August 25, 2006

To my mind wholly successful

I'm a bit surprised to find myself liking this more than most reviewers, for I enjoy playing the CD with regularity. It is true that the "Bach" numbers are hardly "jazz" in the conventional sense, while the others are. But does this really matter? It seems to me that this brilliant and sensitive foursome does equally well in each of the two modes adopted, and - even more importantly - THAT THEY DO NOT JAR. To me, the tracks do offer some sort of unity, by bringing out for one thing the universality of great music, but also for another by implictly stressing how Bach was, in a sense, a precursor to jazz, and how the MJQ, even WITHIN its jazz formulation, plays music Bach would have found totally intelligible, admirable, and congenial. Enjoying this CD requires some lateral thinking! - Joost Daalder October 18, 2005

Fabulous Album!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to up-date my review! I just played this album, and heard that it really is a great album. Classical, Jazz, Blues, Vibes, MJQ, what more can you want? This album is fabulous. It holds its own, as good as classics such as Concorde, Fontessa, Django, and The Sherrif. You might not like this album. It depends on what you want, what you like, and what your looking for. If you're looking for like swinging jazz with a lot of blues influence, and melow classical melodies with a little jazz feel and tingy percussion instruments, then you'll love this album, just like I do. You have to admit though, this was a landmark recording in MJQ's history. June 22, 2004

INTERESTING.................................

The Modern Jazz Quartet has always incorporated European Classical music into their lightly swining jazz. A factor that would turn some hard core jazz fans away. For me, I like their light approach to modern jazz. I feel remorsed after hearing an album like Concorde or Fontessa. On this album The MJQ rotate, classical and jazz songs, one after another. I was turned away at first, but its really a good album. Anyone who can swing Bach is a genious, and these four men are. Vibist Milt Jackson brings his blues playing to the classical stuff, John Lewis brings his classical into the jazz stuff, bassist Percy Heath, just brings us a bed to let Milt and John do that, and drummer Connie Kay, just swings delicately, but acts as a front man soloist with his creative use of percussion equitment and his drumset. I'm not going to point out any material, they're all about the same in value. A new commmer may be discouraged listening to this, but once they've heard some other ground breaking MJQ album, they'll come to love this album. I wouldn't hurry up to the store and buy this album, by the MJQ, but if you see it, pick it up. April 13, 2004

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