Fontessa

Amazon.com essential recording
This 1956 record marked the beginning of the Modern Jazz Quartet's long and fruitful relationship with Atlantic Records and was one of their most inspired visits to a studio. While there had been excellent bands in the past that created a chamber-jazz genre, such as Red Norvo's trio, John Lewis's vision of a fusion of jazz and classical elements was distinctly original. It's apparent here in the controlled counterpoint of "Versailles," the extended first recording on "Fontessa," with Lewis's spare and precise piano perfectly complementing the looser swing of Milt Jackson's glistening vibraphone sound. The group mingles beautifully around Percy Heath's supple, melodic bass lines and Connie Kay's discrete and gently propulsive beat. Jackson's "Bluesology" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Woody'n You" inspire boppish invention, while the limpidly beautiful standards "Willow Weep for Me" and "Angel Eyes" demonstrate Jackson's ability to shift mood in a single phrase. --Stuart Broomer

Fontessa,The Modern Jazz Quartet,Atlantic / Wea,Cool,Group,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Third Stream

Average customer rating: one of MJQ's best, of course Thoughtful music FINE SWINGIN LYRICAL ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish to email the guy in Linkoping Sweden please An essential and beautiful recording

Fontessa The Modern Jazz Quartet Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Modern Jazz Quartet: 1957 No Sun in Venice Blues on Bach Third Stream Music Pyramid ASIN: B000002I4D Release Date: 1990-01-31

Tracks:

1. Versailles (Porte De Versailles)
2. Angel Eyes
3. Fantessa
4. Over The Rainbow
5. Bluesology
6. Willow Weep For Me
7. Woodyn You

Amazon.com essential recording

This 1956 record marked the beginning of the Modern Jazz Quartet's long and fruitful relationship with Atlantic Records and was one of their most inspired visits to a studio. While there had been excellent bands in the past that created a chamber-jazz genre, such as Red Norvo's trio, John Lewis's vision of a fusion of jazz and classical elements was distinctly original. It's apparent here in the controlled counterpoint of "Versailles," the extended first recording on "Fontessa," with Lewis's spare and precise piano perfectly complementing the looser swing of Milt Jackson's glistening vibraphone sound. The group mingles beautifully around Percy Heath's supple, melodic bass lines and Connie Kay's discrete and gently propulsive beat. Jackson's "Bluesology" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Woody'n You" inspire boppish invention, while the limpidly beautiful standards "Willow Weep for Me" and "Angel Eyes" demonstrate Jackson's ability to shift mood in a single phrase. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

one of MJQ's best, of course.......2007-01-18

wonderful to FINALLY find it in cd; the first MJQ i ever heard, in vinyl, which i still own. but who has the space.

Thoughtful music.......2004-08-03

The MJQ doesn't get any better than this. Call it jazz, classical, third stream. It doesn't matter. John Lewis is a master composer and pianist. The blend of the instruments achieves a high level musicality that's almost mystical. Fontessa is a highlight, and Woody'n You swings relentlessly.

FINE SWINGIN LYRICAL ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2004-02-28

There is no reason why this album by the Modern Jazz Quartet should not get five stars. This particular album swings a litte bit more agressively than some albums before it, but still has the lyrical/classical influences of their past albums. It starts off with the swingin Versailles than goes in to the slow rather boring Angel Eyes, than comes the masterpiece. A four movement composition, Fontessa. It's great. Other ground breaking songs like Bluesology, Jackson's more early popular blues piece, and Dizzy Gillespie's Woody n' You. Over all this album is bright, fresh, melodic, soul clensing, soothing, brialliant, beatiful, clean jazz records of MJQ history. And record history of all time.

I wish to email the guy in Linkoping Sweden please.......2004-02-01

Hi I read your review about the poor Japanese stereo CD. I wish to buy this from you please. My email address is bas@mollenkramer.nl
Thanks for reading

An essential and beautiful recording.......2002-12-05

I would truly find it odd to contemplate life without this recording. This is one of those utterly satisfying artistic productions that make one feel that it has been always "there", as part of nature, of creation, whether divinely ordained or not. To those who feel that "classical' music must be "classical" - untainted by jazz - or those who feel that jazz must NOT be "classical", i.e. be "pure" jazz, I would say: listen with an open mind, don't pigeonhole artistic creations, be receptive, and you will enjoy - again and again. The music is quiet, but intense, wonderfully melodious yet profound. As a coherent ensemble, this was one of the best groups ever. The suite "Fontessa" - the piece de resistance of this recording - was a great composition by a great jazz composer, and is beautifully coherent, pointed, subtle and rich. But so are the other tracks. Purchasing this for ongoing musical satisfaction would be one of the very best "investments" one could make. Unhesitatingly recommended - there is just no negative that comes to mind, only great respect and gratitude to the musicians for their warm, vital and inspiring, uplifting contribution. - Joost Daalder

Average customer rating:

Fontessa The Modern Jazz Quartet Manufacturer: Wea/Warner ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Modern Jazz Quartet The Last Concert ASIN: B000JJS4BE Release Date: 2007-01-01

Tracks:

1. Versailles
2. Angel Eyes
3. Fontessa
4. Over the Rainbow
5. Bluesology
6. Willow Weep for Me
7. Woody 'N You

Album Description

Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. Atlantic. 2007.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Average customer rating: A wonderfully satisfying listening experience.

Fontessa: Ljublijana, May 1960 The Modern Jazz Quartet Manufacturer: Giants of Jazz (Ita) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Cool Jazz | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music ASIN: B00002SWP3 Release Date: 1999-12-28

Tracks:

1. Little Comedy/La Cantatrice/Harlequin/Fontessa
2. Cylinder
3. Social Call
4. How High the Moon
5. Colombine/Pulcinella
6. Piazza Di Spagna
7. One Never Knows

Customer Reviews:

A wonderfully satisfying listening experience........2001-03-10

As someone who usually listens to and reviews recordings of German lieder and classical singers and instrumentalists of the past, I might seem an odd candidate for reviewing this CD. Nevertheless, I offer my assessment.

The Modern Jazz Quartet provide one of the most satisfying listening experiences ever produced by four musicians. Their music can be listened to casually, it can be played a background music to live conversation, and it can be studied and analysed endlessly. The sound texture produced by vibraphone, piano, bass, and drums is as easy on the ear and soothing to the brain as any devised by man. Their repertoire is largely composed by the musicians themselves.

The Italian "Giants of Jazz" label provides 62 minutes of music on this CD, recorded at a concert in Ljubljana, May 27 1960. Sedate but very extensive applause precedes and follows each item, appropriate to these discrete, dinner-suited musicians from the USA. No one should approach the check out point without this CD in his trolley.

Average customer rating:

Fontessa ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000BDJ1HE Release Date: 2005-11-15

Average customer rating:

Fontessa - Ltd Modern Jazz Quartet ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0000565F4

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