Lonely Woman

Description

Having sponsored Ornette Coleman at the School of Jazz near Lennox, MA, pianist and composer John Lewis helped launch the controversial career of one of the last great innovators in jazz. Lewis support of the ragtag Texas native was somewhat unique in jazz circles at the time and even surprising, especially considering the gulf between the classical jazz formality of his group the Modern Jazz Quartet and Colemans radical notions of free improvisation. Nevertheless, Lewis not only saw in Coleman the first jazz genius since bebops Parker, Gillespie, and Monk, but put pay to the praise with the MJQs 1962 rendition of one of Colemans most famous numbers, Lonely Woman. (Along with Art Peppers 1960 version of Tears Inside, this was one of the earliest of Coleman covers done.) The 1962 Atlantic album of the same name turns out to be one of the bands best efforts. Lewis and fellow MJQ members Milt Jackson, Percy Heath, and Connie Kaye capitalize on the dramatic theme of Lonely Woman while adding a bit of chamber music complexity to the mix. The quartet doesnt take Colemans free form harmolodic theory to heart with a round of quixotic solos, but the group does spotlight the often overlooked strength of his compositional ideas. And while the MJQ further plies its knack for involved pieces on Lewis originals like Fugato and Trieste, the group also balances out the set with looser material more in tune with Jacksons blues and swing sensibilities. A great record thats perfect for the curious jazz lover. Stephen Cook/AMG

Personnel: Milt Jackson, vibraphone / John Lewis, piano /Percy Heath, bass / Connie Kay, drums