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
Homes cover

Homes

Gilad Hekselman
JuJu cover

JuJu

Wayne Shorter
Our Man in Paris cover

Our Man in Paris

Dexter Gordon
Night Hawk cover

Night Hawk

Coleman Hawkins, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
Get Happy! cover

Get Happy!

Ella Fitzgerald
Spaces cover

Spaces

Larry Coryell
Tenor Madness cover

Tenor Madness

Sonny Rollins