Requesting jazz quartet CD suggestions

For someone still recording, producing very assessible sax orientated recordings of jazz standards try Houston Persons. I'm fond of a recent recording by him doing a duet w/Ron Carter but he has 6 or 7 others with a standard grouping recorded on High Note CD's. I'm partial to "Blue Velvet". You might also like Ron Carter's recordings with his own group.

The Modern Jazz Quartet(piano,bass,drums,mallet percussion) was together as an ensemble for almost thirty years.(They broke up when one of them died.) They got so good that people thought they were playing prearranged stuff when they were actually improvising.

MJQ is salon style jazz at its finest. I would start with one of their compilation albums and then get specific albums from the time(s) that appeals to you.

Check out the "LA Four". You will surely like this one. Also try Joshua Redman, any CD but his "Live at the Village Vanguard" is very cool.

Good Listening,

Steve Bachman
Phoenix, AZ

You guys have given me quite a few leads. Perhaps most beneficial is the info on kplu.org music stream (thanks Celtic66!). I just hook up to them, put on the headphones while surfing and take notes on the various artists. The jazz they play is exactly what I'm looking for. I have found several CDs that look interesting such as: Ray Brown Trio, Scott Hamilton Quartet, Holly Cole Trio and others. Many thanks once again, to all, for the direction you guys provide!

Jeez, this is easy. John Coltrane, Miles Davis (add a horn or two now and then), Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, James Carter, Josh Redman, etc., etc. These are just some classics and any trip through the jazz section of a good record store (Virgin for example) will tip you off to more.

Look for these labels:

JVC XRCD - Blue Note - Impluse - Y2K 20 bit (lots of different labels' reissues on this line; they are always in jewel box inside cardboard sleeve) - and others I can't quite think of right now.