The Modern Jazz Quartet Fontessa (LP, 180g Vinyl)

(Speakers Corner) 7 tracks, 180g vinyl.

In January 1956, the MJQ was on a new label with new personnel and doubts were raised about their continued existence. Fontessa was the recording debut of this lineup, which incidentally was to remain intact for a total of 30 years. The principles behind their success are immortalized here, with the eleven-minute title suite embodying the group's unique blend of chamber music and blues.

Famed critic and jazz expert Ralph J. Gleason rightly mentions poles John Donne and Pablo Picasso in his liner-notes. Nearly four centuries and many gallons of water lie between these two exceptional artists from England and Spain. And yet the four dark-skinned African-Americans of the Modern Jazz Quartet effortlessly bridge times and continents.

Oh yes, there is also blues to be heard - and be-bop! And standards from the Broadway shows of the 1930s! On "Fontessa" - in contrast to some of the other MJQ LPs rippling along - you can hear a varied and dense music. It is also still free of routine, perhaps because drummer Connie Kay had replaced Kenny Clarke only a year before. Possibly also because the blues influence of Milt Jackson was even more noticeably cheering John Lewis to leave discipline to the left for a change.

All seven titles are real treats. If one wants to select one as a play tip, "Bluesology" would offer itself. But maybe the writer of these lines is too much of a Milt Jackson fan - to Rolling Stone magazine, anyway, this LP was worth five stars!

This Speakers Corner production was made using 100% pure analog master tape and mastering.

Recording: January and February 1956 by Rudy Van Gelder in mono
Production: Nesuhi Ertegun