THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET
with LAURINDO ALMEIDA
Collaboration (Label M)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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There certainly was, and is, nothing unusual about a well established group recording with a talented individual aboard as a "special guest." No matter how commonplace a practice was, though, John Lewis and the Modern Jazz Quartet could generally be counted on to find a different, and almost invariably better, way to do it.

Before recording with Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida, who the MJQ first played with at the 1963 Monterey Jazz Festival, they brought him along for a four month European tour, so that by the time they all settled down in the studio in the summer of 1964 Almeida was able to make a contribution to the resulting music far more central than the typical "special guest" might. When you're tackling material that stretches from Bach to Jobim (with plenty of John Lewis thrown in for good measure), that kind of familiarity is essential, especially given the disciplined approach the MJQ always brought to a session. Their music was so consistently satisfying because they worked so consistently hard. Collaboration is no exception to that rule.

This is the second MJQ release from Joel Dorn's Label M. If any more of their Atlantic catalog has missed CD release, Dorn is the man to track it down and get it out. Meanwhile, kudos to the label for getting this gem on the store shelves. I recommend that you get it on yours.

Track List:

Silver * Trieste * Valeria * Fugue In A Minor * One Note Samba * Fol A Saudade * Concierto De Aranjuez

© 2001 - Shaun Dale