The Classical Jazz Quartet was a
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
quartet that existed in the early 2000s. It consisted of four established jazz performers playing
classical music
Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...
interpretations written, arranged, and produced by
Bob Belden and Suzanne Severini. In this the "CJQ" followed in the footsteps of the
Modern Jazz Quartet
The Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) was a jazz combo established in 1952 that played music influenced by classical music, classical, cool jazz, blues and bebop. The Quartet consisted of John Lewis (pianist), John Lewis (piano), Milt Jackson (vibraphon ...
(MJQ, 1952–1997, using the same instrumentation), and the
Jacques Loussier Trio (1959-2019, minus the vibraphone).
Band members
*
Kenny Barron
Kenneth Barron (born June 9, 1943) is an American jazz pianist and composer who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since the bebop era.
Early life
...
– piano
*
Stefon Harris – vibes, marimba
*
Ron Carter
Ronald Levin Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double bassist. His appearances on 2,221 recording sessions make him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. He has won three Grammy Awards, and is also a Cello, cellist who has reco ...
– bass
*
Lewis Nash – drums
Discography
*''Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker'' (2001, Vertical Jazz), reissued as ''The Classical Jazz Quartet Play Tchaikovsky'' (Kind of Blue Records, 2006)
*''The Classical Jazz Quartet Plays Bach'' (Vertical Jazz, 2002)
*''The Classical Jazz Quartet Play Rachmaninov'' (recorded 2002, released May 16, 2006, Kind of Blue Records). The recording consists of
Rachmaninov's ''
Piano Concerto No. 2.''
*''Christmas'' (Kind of Blue Records, 2006)(a compilation of six tracks from ''Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker,'' one from ''Plays Bach'' and a previously unreleased version of
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti.
Born in Halle, Germany, H ...
's ''
Messiah (Handel)
''Messiah'' (HWV 56) is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel. The text was compiled from the King James Bible and the Coverdale Bible, Coverdale Psalter by Charles Jennens. It was first performed in Dublin on ...
'')
[ allmusic ((( Classical Jazz Quartet > Discography > Main Albums )))/ref>
*''The Complete Recordings'' (compilation, Recordings Arts, 2004)
*''Anthology'' (incomplete compilation, Il Sole 24 ore, 2011)
]
References
External links
* Allmusic history
{{Authority control
American jazz ensembles
American musical quartets
Musical groups established in 2001
Contemporary classical music ensembles