MJQ question

[mjzee]

On disc 2 of "The Complete Modern Jazz Quartet Prestige & Pablo Recordings," there are 2 versions of "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise." The first is the studio version from Concorde. The second is a live version. Does anyone know discographical details of this track? Thanks in advance.

[marcello]

Maybe from this one:

2308-243 The Modern Jazz Quartet - Reunion At Budokan 1981

Milt Jackson (vib) John Lewis (p) Percy Heath (b) Connie Kay (d)

"Nippon Budokan", Tokyo, Japan, October 19 & 20, 1981

Introduction

Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise

The Cylinder

Really True Blues

The Golden Striker

Odd's Against Tomorrow

Jasmin Tree

Bags' Groove

Django

Discs Three and Four represent four Pablo albums: The Reunion at Budokan in 1981, Together Again at Montreux Jazz in 1982

Edited January 28, 2012 by marcello

[mjzee]

Maybe, because Concord does own the Pablo catalog, but this is on disc 2, in the midst of Prestige material. OTOH, this is a very clean, modern-sounding live recording. Perhaps they put it here to contrast the MJQ's approach to the tune over the years?

[mikeweil]

Sorry for answering so late - the box combines the Prestige and Pablo recordings of the MJQ. "Softly" happens to be the last track on the final Prestige LP, and it opened the first Pablo LP. That both versions are sequenced one after another is a nice idea for comparison, and a coincidence as they condensed all the material to four CDs. Thus the Prestige tracks do not quite fill the first two CDs and the first Pablo LP starts about two thirds into disc two.

Edited February 24, 2013 by mikeweil

[mjzee]

This makes sense. Thanks, Mike!