Jackson,Milt 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.

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 26. Bluesology - Milt Jackson and His New Sound Group 27. Tin Tin Deo - Dizzy Gillespie Sextet 28. The Champ (Part 1) - Dizzy Gillespie Octet 29. Willow Weep for Me - Thelonius Monk Quintet 30. Criss Cross - Thelonius Monk Quintet 31. Straight No Chaser - Thelonius Monk Quintet 32. Milt Meets Sid - Milt Jackson Quartet 33. D ; E - Milt Jackson Quartet 34. Yesterdays - Milt Jackson Quartet 35. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - Milt Jackson Quartet 36. Autumn Breeze - Milt Jackson Quartet 37. Moving Nicely - Milt Jackson Quartet 38. Round Midnight - Milt Jackson Quartet 39. Bluesology - Milt Jackson Quartet 40. Softly As in a Morning Sunrise - Milt Jackson Quartet 41. Love Me Pretty Baby - Milt Jackson Quartet 42. Heart and Soul - Milt Jackson Quartet 43. True Blues - Milt Jackson Quartet 44. Lillie - Milt Jackson Quintet 45. Tahiti - Milt Jackson Quintet 46. What's New - Milt Jackson Quintet 47. Bag's Groove - Milt Jackson Quintet 48. How High the Moon - Milt Jackson Quartet ; Charlie Parker