Plastic Dreams - The Modern Jazz Quartet

England's Carol

Plastic Dreams

The Modern Jazz Quartet

Produced by Arif Mardin

All selections were composed by John Lewis

Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, N.Y.

Recording Engineer: Lewis Hahn

Re-mix Engineer: Ed Barton at Wally Heider's Studio, Los Angeles, California

Cover Art & Album Design: Stanislow Zagorski

Atlantic Recording Corporation 

SD 1589

1971

Members of The Modern Jazz Quartet are:

John Lewis - Piano and Harpsichord

Milt Jackson - Vibraharp

Percy Heath - Bass

Connie Kay - Drums and Percussion

On "Variations On A Christmas Theme" and "Piazzo Navona: 

Snookie Young and Joe Newman - Trumpets

Garnett Brown - Trombone

Jim Buffington - French Horn

Don Butterfield - Tuba

From the inside cover:

It (MJQ) began, actually, as the rhythm section of Dizzy Gillespie's 1946 - 48 big band. Indeed, in 1948, its members made a rather obscure record date, under Milt Jackson's name, and with the celebrated Cuban bongo player, Chano Pozo.

As John Lewis has modestly explained, it was the quality of their work on this and subsequent recording dates together (done in 1951 and 1952) that convinced the members of the group that they liked playing together and wanted to continue to.

Of course it was not that easy. The musicians had to bide their time and take other jobs before they could persuade the rest of the world of what they had already discovered for themselves about their potential. Jackson worked with Woody Herman and was back with Gillespie. John Lewis accompanied Ella Fitzgerald and worked with Charlie Parker and Lester Young.

But the recordings together continued, and, with John Lewis appointed musical director of a co-operative group, the style grew. Then, in early 1953, one of the group's LPs caught on with record buyers, and the Modern Jazz Quartet became a going thing in nightclubs and concerts.

There was one change in personnel. In early 1955, the great drummer Kenny Clarke decided to leave the United States and take permanent residence in Paris. Connie Kay, whose work John Lewis had known with Lester Young, was brought in, with little preparation, for a job in Philadelphia. He has been with the group ever since.

Walkin' Stomp

Dancing

Plastic Dreams

Variations On A Christmas Theme

Trav'lin'

Piazza Novona

England Carol