Opinions about the 4cd box set “Modern Jazz Quartet – MJQ 40” (Atlantic, mostly)

[Rooster_Ties]

I just noticed this MJQ box on Amazon, so cheap it might as well be free (less than $7, if you can imagine). Combined with other stuff, no shipping (we’re not on Prime, never will be). And it IS fulfilled by Amazon directly (it’s NOT from some dealer on the marketplace).

Here it is…

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002ISE

I know, no brainer probably.

But reading the Amazon reviews, oddly some of the reviews read like it’s for one specific album (cd) — so maybe this really isn’t the MJQ 40 box after all??

FWIW, I’ve only had 2 different MJQ LP’s over the years (somewhat beat up LP’s) — one was Pyramid (with “Django”) — and I forget the other one, which I must have traded 25 yrs ago.  And no CD’s, ever. Big oversight on my part, I know.

So I’m looking online to try and get a sense of the proportion of years covered in this box — and I can’t seem to find anything discographical other than song titles, and and overall set of years covered. And I found an image on eBay that said disc 4 covers 1973-1988 (so if the whole thing is chronological, then that means it’s not at all bloated towards their later years).

What do people think about how this set was curated?

But I’ll admit I’m really peeved to discover one tune, Ornette’s “Lonely Woman” apparently ISN’T included  — which is one of a handful MJQ tracks I’ve always really loved.

But other than that omission, is it a fairly good overview?

Here’s the Discogs entry for it:

https://www.discogs.com/release/7534618-The-Modern-Jazz-Quartet-MJQ-40

Edited yesterday at 03:05 AM by Rooster_Ties

[JSngry]

I bought the Mosaic and also picked up the later Atlantics, live and studio. Also the two Apple records, and the OJC(?) collection of the Prestige/Pablo records.

I'm not an unqualified/uncritical fan, but when I like them, I like them a lot.

For that price, hey... 

But do not miss Space

 

 

[John L]

This does not look like a box set.  I think that it is just the album Collaboration with Laurindo Almeida.  

The MJQ box sets include the Mosaic collection of their Atlantic Recordings and a box on Fantasy that collects the early Prestige and later Pablo recordings.  

I have the Mosaic Box but hardly ever listen to it - not really my cup of tea.  I generally like the Prestige and Pablo recordings better, with a bit more Milt Jackson inspired blues and swing in place of the quirky third stream departures that were common in the Atlantic years.  

[mjzee]

10 hours ago, Rooster_Ties said:

I just noticed this MJQ box on Amazon, so cheap it might as well be free (less than $7, if you can imagine). Combined with other stuff, no shipping (we’re not on Prime, never will be). And it IS fulfilled by Amazon directly (it’s NOT from some dealer on the marketplace).

Here it is…

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002ISE

I know, no brainer probably.

But reading the Amazon reviews, oddly some of the reviews read like it’s for one specific album (cd) — so maybe this really isn’t the MJQ 40 box after all??

FWIW, I’ve only had 2 different MJQ LP’s over the years (somewhat beat up LP’s) — one was Pyramid (with “Django”) — and I forget the other one, which I must have traded 25 yrs ago.  And no CD’s, ever. Big oversight on my part, I know.

So I’m looking online to try and get a sense of the proportion of years covered in this box — and I can’t seem to find anything discographical other than song titles, and and overall set of years covered. And I found an image on eBay that said disc 4 covers 1973-1988 (so if the whole thing is chronological, then that means it’s not at all bloated towards their later years).

What do people think about how this set was curated?

But I’ll admit I’m really peeved to discover one tune, Ornette’s “Lonely Woman” apparently ISN’T included  — which is one of a handful MJQ tracks I’ve always really loved.

But other than that omission, is it a fairly good overview?

Here’s the Discogs entry for it:

https://www.discogs.com/release/7534618-The-Modern-Jazz-Quartet-MJQ-40

The listing you saw may have been in error.  Amazon now shows it as $6.66 (watch out for that price!) plus $21.99 delivery.

As for the curation, it looks like their typical Atlantic fare - they could have been renamed the John Lewis Quartet.  He's never been my favorite - to me, he sounds like he's playing "Chopsticks."  Basie taught that simple doesn't mean simplistic, but Lewis didn't learn that lesson.  Having said that, I think no jazz collection is complete without some MJQ, so if you do get it at the original price, you done good.

[jazzbo]

Amazon makes these errors often enough--reviews of another item stuck in the page of another item. It's likely the box set. It's a European budget release from more than 30 years ago--I've seen it priced very cheaply in the past.

 

Edited 22 hours ago by jazzbo

[Dub Modal]

6 minutes ago, mjzee said:

 

As for the curation, it looks like their typical Atlantic fare - they could have been renamed the John Lewis Quartet.  He's never been my favorite - to me, he sounds like he's playing "Chopsticks."  Basie taught that simple doesn't mean simplistic, but Lewis didn't learn that lesson.  Having said that, I think no jazz collection is complete without some MJQ, so if you do get it at the original price, you done good.

That's the harshest critique of Lewis I've ever read lol. Helps me realize I never listen to the MJQ for Lewis, so I'll have to keep this in mind the next time I play one of their records. 

[Rooster_Ties]

18 minutes ago, mjzee said:

The listing you saw may have been in error.  Amazon now shows it as $6.66 (watch out for that price!) plus $21.99 delivery.

Ok, now that is weird — because yesterday and the day before it was free shipping if you met Amazon’s total purchase minimum (maybe $35 now, I forget).

And I’d added almost enough in my cart to get to $35 — and there was no extra shipping on the MJQ 40 box.

Bullet dodged then, I suppose.

[mjzee]

46 minutes ago, Dub Modal said:

That's the harshest critique of Lewis I've ever read lol. Helps me realize I never listen to the MJQ for Lewis, so I'll have to keep this in mind the next time I play one of their records. 

Don't get me started on Connie Kay's finger cymbals.

[JSngry]

 

[Dub Modal]

12 minutes ago, mjzee said:

Don't get me started on Connie Kay's finger cymbals.

😂 They don't bother me, and I've actually listened for those. 

[HutchFan]

I'll offer another perspective:  I LOVE John Lewis' piano playing.

My 2 cents.   

-------------------------

I don't know which tracks are included in that particular box, but -- given the fact that you don't have much MJQ in your collection -- it seems like it'd be a "no brainer" to get it at that price if you can.

 

Edited 21 hours ago by HutchFan

[Rooster_Ties]

29 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

I don't know which tracks are included in that particular box, but -- given the fact that you don't have much MJQ in your collection -- it seems like it'd be a "no brainer" to get it at that price if you can.

Since I first posted, the listing on Amazon changed from being fulfilled by Amazon (and eligible for free shipping if you spend $35).

Now it’s fulfilled by a third party, and costs an additional $22 for shipping.

If I do buy this MJQ 40 box at some point, it won’t be thru this offer on Amazon.

(But there do appear to be other not-so-expensive offers to be had elsewhere.)

But I’m still pretty disappointed it doesn’t include their remake of Ornette’s “Lonely Woman”. 

[Dub Modal]

Seems like you'd be better off buying from discogs sellers at this point 

[Rooster_Ties]

6 minutes ago, Dub Modal said:

Seems like you'd be better off buying from discogs sellers at this point 

Oh, definitely, or eBay.

No longer even considering this Amazon offer, once the $22 shipping fee appeared out of nowhere.

[felser]

I've owned this box twice, but had no need to keep it either time (the second purchase was for like $10, used it to revisit some tracks that I never got on individual CD's).  It serves well as a sampler of their Atlantic years, not as well for their Prestige years.   I'll take five hours of Milt Jackson any time, fall somewhere in the middle on John Lewis.  Clear yes for $7, reserved no for $28, depending on your need for MJQ.  Lots of Euro PD packages of their work through 1962 available.

[mikeweil]

If you don't like Lewis, okay, but no reason to bash him. He was his own man, could swing and play blues and funky, to, but with his delicate touch. There is enough high gear jazz for you which lacks of the subtlety Lewis had, Jackson sounded the sme on all his records without Lewis' guidance. 

But we've had that discussion before. No reason to beat a dead horse.

[Milestones]

I find Lewis to be brilliant.

Give Evolution II a try, especially "Cain and Abel."

 

[Dub Modal]

20 minutes ago, mikeweil said:

Jackson sounded the sme on all his records without Lewis' guidance. 

Yeesh, that's harsh as well.

Is it safe to say that outside of OP, the MJQ gets the hottest takes? 

[Pim]

Big fan of both John Lewis and Milt Jackson here. They were both great and complemented each other nicely. 
 

The MJQ were a pretty unique group with a distinctive sound. I could see why one could like or dislike them. But they definitely fill up an important piece of Jazz history. Glad to own a lot records by them. 

[jlhoots]

5 minutes ago, Pim said:

Big fan of both John Lewis and Milt Jackson here. They were both great and complemented each other nicely. 
 

The MJQ were a pretty unique group with a distinctive sound. I could see why one could like or dislike them. But they definitely fill up an important piece of Jazz history. Glad to own a lot records by them. 

👍

[JSngry]

 

[Dub Modal]

 

Have to say, I'm getting the Chopsticks reference from Lewis on That Slavic Smile which starts this album off. He makes better on the following track, Echoes, though. Thankfully Milt is on these records. 

[JSngry]

That comping...sublime!

[Dub Modal]

1 minute ago, JSngry said:

That comping...sublime!

Yeah the comping is really good on Echoes too. I think that's his strong suit. 

Edited 17 hours ago by Dub Modal

[JSngry]

It's the composer, that's how a composer turns a small group into an organized ensemble.

I've never disliked him or the MJ@, but I really think that he last few years of the original run saw the band really finding another level.Starting with Blues at Carnegie Hall all the way through Blues on Bach. From 1966-1973. Things seemed to loosen up, breathe more, and Heath/Kay found some funk. It's by far my most consistently favorite MJQ.