The Modern Jazz Quartet - Pyramid (1960)

The Modern Jazz Quartet

Pyramid (1960)

Track listing

1-Vendome (John Lewis) - 2:30

2-Pyramid (Blues for Junior) (Ray Brown) - 10:46

3-It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) (Duke Ellington, Irving Mills) - 5:02

4-Django (John Lewis) - 4:36

5-How High the Moon (Nancy Hamilton, Morgan Lewis) - 6:15

6-Romaine (Jim Hall) - 7:28

Personnel

Milt Jackson - vibraphone

John Lewis - piano

Percy Heath - bass

Connie Kay - drums

Recording DateAugust 22, 1959 & January 15, 1960

Recording Location

Capitol Studios, New York, NY

The Music Inn, Lenox, MA

This is a strong recording from the Modern Jazz Quartet, with inventive versions of John Lewis' "Vendome," Ray Brown's "Pyramid," Jim Hall's "Romaine," and Lewis' famous "Django," along with cooking jams on "How High the Moon" and "It Don't Mean a Thing." The MJQ had become a jazz institution by this time, but they never lost their creative edge, and their performances (even on the remakes) are quite stimulating, enthusiastic, and fresh.