Song:It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
Album:Dedicated To Connie
The longevity of the Modern Jazz Quartet speaks for itself. They were one of the most popular jazz bands for decades. And the group would still be around if the guys were still alive. The leader was pianist and musical director John Lewis (born May 3, 1920 in LaGrange, IL). Lewis, vibraphonist Milt Jackson (born Jan. 1, 1923 in Detroit), bassist Ray Brown and drummer Kenny Clarke would play together between sets as members of Dizzy Gillespie's big band. They first recorded together as the Milt Jackson Quartet in 1951. Percy Heath (born Apr. 30, 1923 in Wilmington, NC) replaced Brown in 1952 and Connie Kay (born Conrad Kirnon Apr. 27, 1927 in Tuckahoe, NY) replaced Clarke in 1955. And that was the basic lineup for two decades. Jackson was successful as a solo artist and Heath & Kay played a lot of session so MJQ was mostly Lewis' group. They recorded mostly for Atlantic Records. MJQ worked with symphony orchestras and other classical musicians along with guest vocalists and jazz musicians. Jackson left MJQ in 1974 but he returned for reunion recordings and tours. Dedicated To Connie is a 2CD set recorded in Slovenia in 1960 and Atlantic released it in 1995 as a tribute to Connie Kay. Kay was replaced by Mickey Roker when his health started to fail and he died in 1994. Milt Jackson died in 1999. John Lewis died in 2001. Percy Heath died in 2005. But the music of the Modern Jazz Quartet still lives. Here's the Modern Jazz Quartet performing It Don't Mean A Thing in Munich 1988.
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