This CD is a sampling of recordings featuring the great vibraphonist
Milt Jackson. The first two selections date from 1948 and have
Jackson featured with two future members of the
Modern Jazz Quartet (pianist
John Lewis and drummer
Kenny Clarke) plus bassist
Alvin Jackson and percussionist
Chano Pozo. The other recordings are from 1954-1956.
Jackson is featured with all-star groups on eight numbers including the alternate take of his "Bags' Groove" from a session featuring
Miles Davis and
Thelonious Monk. Other performances include some of the
MJQ members plus pianist
Horace Silver, bassist
Oscar Pettiford and guitarist
Barney Kessel. The final five numbers feature a few recorded at the Music Inn including two numbers that add clarinetist
Jimmy Giuffre, guitarist
Jim Hall and second bassist
Ralph Pena to the
MJQ. All of the music was previously released and this is just a somewhat random sampling of
Milt Jackson's early recordings so it falls short of being essential. However
Da Capo can serve as a solid introduction to his work of the period and each of these performances are enjoyable, swinging and somewhat bluesy. ~ Scott Yanow