Modern Jazz Quartet

Active since: 1952

The Modern Jazz Quartet was a major jazz institution, a band that, counting a seven-year ��vacation,�� lasted 43 years. During a time when jazz musicians were stereotyped as unreliable, rarely sober and erratic, the MJQ played at concert halls while wearing tuxedos. They are not known to have ever been late, missed a gig, or disappointed an audience. The Modern Jazz Quartet��s evolution began in the Dizzy Gillespie big band of 1946. Due to the complexity of the charts and the strain that it caused in the trumpet section, Gillespie featured his rhythm section on an occasional number

Ornette Coleman's and Horace Silver's "Lonely Woman" �� A Disambiguation

by Artur Moral
July 27, 2025

Reality is filled with confusion and misunderstandings; some are suggestive or creative, while others are disappointing or, worse, malicious. The jazz world is no stranger to the first type: specific compositions are often confused or misidentified as if they were the same. Usually, this happens because of similar melodies or titles that are sometimes identical. This ...

Sean Vokes

Born: January 26, 1976

Sean was born in San Antonio, TX and raised with two concert pianists as parents. He has a B.M. degree from West Texas A&M University, with continued studies at the Masters level, and also holds an M.B.A. from Abilene Christian University. Sean is the founder and Executive Director of Minor Third Records, an indie label, where he has released two albums of original compositions (Reflections of Simplicity and Mundane Fascinations). Sean is currently a student of Berklee Asst. Piano Dept. Chair, Dr. John Paul McGee. He has also studied at the New York Jazz Academy and enjoys sitting in at New York Clubs like Ornithology. Sean is an active performer, composer, arranger, and accompanist. He has served as the Region Jazz Chair for the Texas Music Educators Association and was commissioned to write music for the TMEA audition process.

Five Worthwhile Releases From Early 2025

by Jerome Wilson
March 19, 2025

These are short reviews of several albums released during the first months of 2025. Pablo Tarantino Charnia PKmusik 2024 Drummer Pablo Tarantino is originally from Argentina but currently resides in Germany. The music on his debut CD moves with the slow grace and spacious beauty of some ...

Paul Desmond and the Modern Jazz Quartet

December 24, 2024

Paul Desmond and the Modern Jazz Quartet appeared together on stage only once, on the evening of Christmas Day in 1971. What's remarkable is that the concert was taped and the second half released on vinyl in 1981. The combined sound together was heavenly. Michael O'Daniel turned me on to the album, since I wasn't aware ...

Jamie Pye

Born: September 21, 1996

Jamie Pye is a London-based jazz guitarist and composer with roots in both Australia and New Zealand. He performs in various line ups and contexts; from intimate duo residencies, to headline performances as a bandleader showcasing his original music. He is often part of house bands for jam sessions around town, or as a sideman on other projects. 

In 2023, Jamie completed his first 10-date national tour around New Zealand, including appearances at the Creative Jazz Club in Auckland and Hanover Hall in Dunedin. In between shows, Jamie recorded his debut album ‘Monochrome’, set for release in November on Inward Bound Records. 

A Fireside Chat With Lou Donaldson

by AAJ Staff
November 12, 2024

This interview was originally published on All About Jazz in December 2002. Some years back, before he passed, Andy Simpkins and I spoke about his journey and I recall how fondly he spoke of Lou Donaldson. I told Simpkins that most of the things I read about Donaldson are prefaced by Charlie Parker and ...

Top Ten Sci-Fi Jazz Albums

by Chris May
October 14, 2024

On The Launch Pad Robert Frosch, head honcho at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from 1977 to 1981, wrote that at cocktail parties he was sometimes asked whether NASA had some gizmo or other that had recently been brought to fictional life in a sci-fi book or movie. If Frosch's answer was “No," the next ...

Darrell Grant: Our Mr. Jackson

by Maurizio Zerbo
April 18, 2024

Pianista di vaglia, Darrell Grant ha il pregio di non deludere chi si aspetta classe, squisita musicalit�� e buon gusto nella pratica jazzistica. Queste componenti si ritrovano nell'omaggio discografico a Milt Jackson e al Modern Jazz Quartet. Our Mr Jackson �� un CD interessante per la musicalit�� e le sofisticate soluzioni melodiche, anche se ...

Monterey Jazz Festival: Forty Legendary Years

by Joel Roberts
December 4, 1997

Monterey Jazz Festival: 40 Legendary Years William Minor and Bill Wishner 176 pages ISBN: 0-883318-40-8 Angel City Press 1997 The opening night of the first Monterey Jazz Festival in 1958 featured performances by Gerry Mulligan, Max Roach, Dave Brubeck, Cal Tjader, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Harry James, and, just ...