In Memoriam (Modern Jazz Quartet album)

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In Memoriam
Studio album by
Released1974
RecordedNovember 5–6, 1973
StudioCBS Studios, New York City
GenreJazz
Length33:51
LabelLittle David LD 3001
ProducerJohn Lewis and Teo Macero
Modern Jazz Quartet chronology
The Legendary Profile
(1972)
In Memoriam
(1974)
Blues on Bach
(1973)
Milt Jackson chronology
Goodbye
(1973)
In Memoriam
(1973)
Blues on Bach
(1973)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[2]

In Memoriam is an album by American jazz group the Modern Jazz Quartet recorded in 1973 and released on the Little David label.[3]

Background[edit]

On the Album In Memoriam, recorded a year before the start of their hiatus, the Modern Jazz Quartet was accompanied by an orchestra conducted by Maurice Peress. Pianist John Lewis wrote the title composition in tribute to Walter Keller, his piano teacher at the University of New Mexico. He composed "Jazz Ostinato" around 1960 during the third stream era ; it is based on three ostinato figures, the third of which he said was originally conceived as backing "for an Ornette ColemanEric Dolphy approach". Furthermore, the piece contains homages to Arnold Schoenberg and Igor Stravinsky, prompting Lewis to comment that it "also plays a part in the memorium". The group had previously recorded the adagio from "Concierto de Aranjuez" with the guitarist Laurindo Almeida on their 1964 album Collaboration.[4][5][6]

Reception[edit]

The Allmusic review stated "despite some stimulating moments, the music is often quite dry. It's one of the classic group's lesser releases".[1]

Track listing[edit]

All compositions by John Lewis except as indicated

  1. "In Memoriam – First Movement" – 8:40
  2. "In Memoriam – Second Movement" 9:03
  3. "Jazz Ostinato" – 6:19
  4. "Adagio from the Guitar Concerto: Concerto de Aranjuez" (Joaquín Rodrigo) – 9:49

Personnel[edit]

Musicians

Production

  • John Lewis – producer
  • Teo Macero – producer
  • Stanley Tonkel – recording engineer
  • Gene Paul – re-mix engineer
  • John Lewis – re-mix engineer
  • Edd Kolakowski – Steinway piano technician

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Nastos, M. G. Allmusic Review accessed June 1, 2012
  2. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp. 143. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  3. ^ Modern Jazz Quartet discography accessed June 1, 2012
  4. ^ Giddins, Gary (1998). "Modern Jazz Quartet (The First Forty Years)". Visions of Jazz: The First Century. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 393, 398. ISBN 978-0-19-513241-0.
  5. ^ "Albuquerque Celebrates its Own Jazz Icon". Weekly Alibi. July 7, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  6. ^ "Collaboration – The Modern Jazz Quartet". AllMusic. Retrieved October 19, 2019.