Bryn Fortey, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and Chet Baker

A while back Bryn Fortey reminded me about the Modern Jazz Quartet.  Here is his poem about this group.

M J Q

1920s?

Try the Modern Jazz Quartet for size

Four for the price of one

John Lewis (1920)

Milt Jackson (1923)

Percy Heath (1923)

Connie Kay (1927)

Sophisticated counterpoint

Chamber-jazz feeling

European classical forms

They had their critics

But were popular beyond

The limiting jazz community

During their late sixties peak

Lewis’s compositions

And group improvisation

Of vibrant intensity

Kept them at the forefront

Of jazz that was undeniably modern

Bryn Fortey

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 Chet Baker is definitely worth writing about as well.  Bryn's title is fabulous!

NO VALENTINES FOR THE JAMES DEAN OF JAZZ

Chet Baker burst upon the scene

In the piano-less quartet

He formed with Gerry Mulligan

Cool jazz was “in” and

His looks and swoon-era vocals

Seemed to guarantee stardom

But his personality was as fragile

As his poignant, emotionally- charged

Trumpet playing

Whatever the question

Heroin supplied the answer

Drifting in and out of drug deluded decades

Baker resurfaced at odd moments

Like a jazz mercenary

Have trumpet: will play: where’s the money?

Dollars always needed for the next fix

Yet there were still occasions

When the music was sublime

(Which only emphasised what had been lost)

Chet Baker: sweet and sour

From jazz idol to ravaged junky

What a waste

Bryn Fortey

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I don't know how much Modern Jazz Quartet I've posted here, but here is their version of "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise," another great title.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crCxefHCLJA

"Blues in C Minor" epitomizes MJQ's willingness to blend musical genres:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-_sYoaNVMw

"Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5" brings Brazilian music into the mix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JhUfGet1ng

Here is a live version of their "Django."  From the host's hairstyle, this performance appears to be from the 1980s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW-QCiO9_xE

As soon as I started playing these cuts above, my husband came running to hear Milt Jackson on the vibes.  Ethan plays Jackson's CDs and YouTube videos quite a bit.

I've posted Chet Baker's version of "My Funny Valentine" before, but I have to pair it with Bryn's poem:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvXywhJpOKs

This song "Festive Minor" also features Gerry Mulligan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aTsO5IpMUg

Or you may prefer a standard like "Stardust":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86CiUURjC5k

Enjoy!