Milt Jackson - The Early Years 1945-52 (CD)

Milt Jackson is best-known as the long-time vibraphone player with The Modern Jazz Quartet, one of the most important and longest-established ensembles in post-war jazz. However, in the seven years prior to that group's first formal recordings under that name in 1952, Milt Jackson recorded with some of the most significant and influential names in the genre, developing the musical concepts, techniques and partnerships which helped from the basis of the MJQ's highly distinctive approach to jazz. During the late '40s and first years of the '50s he recorded with groups led by Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, Ray Brown, Howard McGhee, Sonny Stitt, Fats Navarro, Thelonious Monk and Kenny Clarke, as well as making his first recordings leading his own different line-ups - his two sets of recordings with Monk's Quartet and Quintet in 1948 and 1951 are especially notable. In those groups, he played with a host of bop era luminaries, including Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Don Byas, J.J. Johnson, Art Blakey, Max Roach and many others, including his first session with future MJQ colleague John Lewis. This great-value 48-track 2-CD set selects studio recordings and 'live' performances from that hugely significant formative period, by the end of which the initial NJQ line-up had crystallised as the Milt Jackson Quartet. It's a thoroughly entertaining and illuminating insight into how Jackson's already finely-honed style interacted with an eclectic range of the genre's finest talents.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Dizzy Atmosphere - Dizzy Gillespie and His Rebop Six
2. Round Midnight - Tempo Jazz Men
3. 52nd Street Theme - Dizzy Gillespie ; His Orchestra
4. A Night in Tunisia - Dizzy Gillespie ; His Orchestra
5. Boppin' the Blues - Ray Brown All Stars
6. Bean and the Boys - Coleman Hawkins ; His Orchestra
7. You Go to My Head - Coleman Hawkins ; His Orchestra
8. Cocktails for Two - Coleman Hawkins ; His Orchestra
9. Coolie-Rini - Howard McGhee Sextet
10. Surrender - Howard McGhee Sextet
11. Bobbin' with Robin - Milt Jackson and His All Stars
12. Baggy Eyes - Milt Jackson and His All Stars
13. Slits - Milt Jackson and His All Stars
14. Red Shoes - Lord Nelson ; His Boppers
15. Star Dust - Lord Nelson ; His Boppers
16. Evidence - Thelonius Monk Quartet
17. Misterioso - Thelonius Monk Quartet
18. Epistrophy - Thelonius Monk Quartet
19. I Mean You - Thelonius Monk Quartet
20. The Skunk - Howard McGhee ; Fats Navarro
21. Bruz - Kenny Clarke and His Clique
22. You Go to My Head - Kenny Clarke and His Clique
23. Hearing Bells - Milt Jackson and His New Sound Group
24. Junior - Milt Jackson and His New Sound Group
25. Bubu - Milt Jackson and His New Sound Group

Disc: 2

1. Bluesology - Milt Jackson and His New Sound Group
2. Tin Tin Deo - Dizzy Gillespie Sextet
3. The Champ (Part 1) - Dizzy Gillespie Octet
4. Willow Weep for Me - Thelonius Monk Quintet
5. Criss Cross - Thelonius Monk Quintet
6. Straight No Chaser - Thelonius Monk Quintet
7. Milt Meets Sid - Milt Jackson Quartet
8. D ; E - Milt Jackson Quartet
9. Yesterdays - Milt Jackson Quartet
10. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - Milt Jackson Quartet
11. Autumn Breeze - Milt Jackson Quartet
12. Moving Nicely - Milt Jackson Quartet
13. Round Midnight - Milt Jackson Quartet
14. Bluesology - Milt Jackson Quartet
15. Softly As in a Morning Sunrise - Milt Jackson Quartet
16. Love Me Pretty Baby - Milt Jackson Quartet
17. Heart and Soul - Milt Jackson Quartet
18. True Blues - Milt Jackson Quartet
19. Lillie - Milt Jackson Quintet
20. Tahiti - Milt Jackson Quintet
21. What's New - Milt Jackson Quintet
22. Bag's Groove - Milt Jackson Quintet
23. How High the Moon - Milt Jackson Quartet ; Charlie Parker