The Modern Jazz Quartet - 40 Years Of MJQ (2006) DVD5

On
tour for their 40th Anniversary, the four jazz giants stopped in
Stuttgart for the �Jazz Gipfel� 1992, where they were joined by the
Arcata chamber orchestra, directed by Patrick Strub. As Pianist John
Lewis� compositions had long been influenced by his affinity for the
so-called �Third Stream� between jazz and classical music, this seemed
an apt celebration. The MJQ existed from 1952 to 1974, and again from
1981 to 1995. Over the years it took such deep root in the consciousness
of jazz fans that, quite irrationally, one could believe in the
immortality of its members. The past few years have proved us wrong: all
four members of the quartet have died, the last was Percy Heath in
2005.

The fortieth anniversary of the Modern Jazz Quartet in 1992
was celebrated all round the world. Long-serving drummer Connie Kay was
sadly missing on the occasion. By 1992 he was already seriously ill and
had to be replaced by Mickey Roker on the tour. However, the renowned
Philadelphian drummer, who had partnered all the jazz greats, including
Dizzy Gillespie, fit in perfectly with the other three.

This
filmed recording provides some explanation of the group�s long-lasting
success. The combo took great trouble, with their elegant clothing and
their serious appearance, to set standards for stage presence. However,
this did not make their music any less genuinely jazzy. The idea was to
make jazz �presentable in society� and win over lovers of classical
music, who warmed to Lewis with his love of fugues and other classical
forms. He played with the conviction that jazz was of equal value � and
deserved equal respect in society, the same concert halls, the same
attentive public � as so-called �serious music�.

The concern felt
for a sick drummer and friend, the regret at his absence on such a
festive occasion, are almost visible on screen. The artists� faces show
more than their customary seriousness and concentration. Rather than his
usual �cool� face, Jackson wears a somewhat melancholy expression even
when his playing is lively and spirited and Lewis sometimes seems at bit
ill at ease. Bassist Percy Heath, who was to outlive the others by many
years, however, sports a laid-back, benevolent smile. In spite of their
obvious sadness, the musicians repeatedly produce amazing flights of
solo brilliance during the concert.

As jazz specialist Marcus A.
Woelfle notes in the accompanying booklet, �it is a constant pleasure to
hear the interplay between such contrasting musicians and see them �at
work� together. Lewis is the man of proportion, of Classical discipline.
And yet, though �Bags� (Jackson) was the more soulful, more spontaneous
musician of the two, his tendency towards abundance and rich
ornamentation could well be termed Baroque. If he was an instinctive
performer, a full-blooded trouper with a generous, effervescent playing
style, then John Lewis was also a quiet and restrained pianist with the
aura of a professor � no note is played without forethought; none is
superfluous, his awareness of the essential has been learned from Bach.�

The
Stuttgart concert takes off with Three Windows, a title from the film
score to the film �No Sun in Venice�. After an introduction by the jazz
musicians the orchestra joins in, they are finely tuned into the swing
of the piece. The piece Sketch that follows was originally written for
the MJQ and a string quartet. Here it is performed in a version for
string orchestra and, in the third piece, Alexander�s Fugue, the wind
players join the group. The slow movement of the classical Rodrigo�s
Concierto de Aranjuez � adapted for jazz by Miles Davis - allows the
orchestra to play a full, symphonic role.

The concert took place
during the Croatian war of independence. Musicians and listeners alike
were well aware of the terrible devastation that had been wrought in
Dubrovnik in the previous year by thousands of Serbian grenades. In a
time of destruction, the MJQ sent a signal of hope with its concert and
raised a monument to beauty when they chose A Day In Dubrovnik as their
final piece (to be heard without orchestra on the �35th Anniversary
Tour� TDK DVD). Lewis, who was married to the Croatian harpsichordist
Mirjana Lewis, took his inspiration from the Venetian Antonio Vivaldi
and from Istrian Giuseppe Tartini, whose birthplace was not far from
Dubrovnik: �The piece tries to give an impression, first of �Afternoon�,
when the great tour ships arrive and people from other lands encounter
this beautiful Renaissance city. The second part is �Evening and Late
Night�, when one feels the serenity of Dubrovnik.

Finally,
there�s the impression of the busy �Morning� life in this most charming
city. Dubrovnik was an important city on the Adriatic in the way Venice
was, but whereas Venice is all color, Dubrovnik is all white marble,
beautifully preserved.�

Artists: Modern Jazz Quartet
John Lewis � Piano
Percy Heath � Bass
Milt Jackson � Vibes
Mickey Roker � Drums

TrackList
01. Three Windows (Medley from No Sun in Venice)
02. Sketch
03. Alexander�s Fugue
04. Adagio from Concierto de Aranjues
05. A Day in Dubrovnik Suite


Features:
- Interactive Menu
- Direct Scene Access
- Musician's Biography
- Digitally Remastered

Extra:
- Lyrics: Instant Access to Songs Solos
- Documentary: About the Modern Jazz Quartet
- Biography: About Mickey Roker
- Biography: About Connie Kay
- Biography: About Milt Jackson
- Biography: About Percy Heath
- Biography: About John Lewis



Download links:
Download from
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1959891461/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part01.rar
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1960284234/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part02.rar
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1960288514/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part03.rar
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1960293124/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part04.rar
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1960296794/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part05.rar
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1960296554/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part06.rar
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1960296844/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part07.rar
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1960299564/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part08.rar
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1960300184/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part09.rar

Download from
http://www.wupload.com/file/165441905/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part01.rar
http://www.wupload.com/file/165442325/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part02.rar
http://www.wupload.com/file/165442306/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part03.rar
http://www.wupload.com/file/165442324/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part04.rar
http://www.wupload.com/file/165443184/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part05.rar
http://www.wupload.com/file/165443237/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part06.rar
http://www.wupload.com/file/165443249/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part07.rar
http://www.wupload.com/file/165443250/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part08.rar
http://www.wupload.com/file/165443537/16ModernJazzQuartet_40YearsMJQDVD5.part09.rar
-