Django cover
Released

With their skinny ties, dark suits, and reserved demeanor, the Modern Jazz Quartet were one of the iconic ensembles of the cool jazz style, and Django is one of the most notable albums in their considerable discography. The title track is a tune written by pianist John Lewis in honor of Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, but its restrained, decorous style could hardly be more removed from the headlong swing of its namesake’s playing. Elsewhere, tracks like “Le Ronde Suite” and “The Queen’s Fancy” illustrate the ongoing dalliance of cool jazz with European classical music, to delightful effect.

Rick Anderson

Recommended by

Suggestions
Biosphere cover

Biosphere

Florian Weber
Embrace cover

Embrace

Lafayette Harris, Jr., Roswell Rudd, Ken Filiano, Fay Victor
Out There cover

Out There

Eric Dolphy
Free Flying cover

Free Flying

Julian Lage, Fred Hersch
Major Influence cover

Major Influence

John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, Tamir Hendelman, Graham Dechter
Moanin’ cover

Moanin’

Art Blakey
Pure Desmond cover

Pure Desmond

Paul Desmond
The New Standard cover

The New Standard

Jamie Saft, Steve Swallow, Bobby Previte