For this set,
the Modern Jazz Quartet (pianist
John Lewis, vibraphonist
Milt Jackson, bassist
Percy Heath and drummer
Connie Kay) were joined by a Germany symphony orchestra conducted by
Gunther Schuller. Although these third-stream pieces (
Schuller's three-movement "Concertino for Jazz Quartet & Orchestra,"
Andre Hodeir's "Around the Blues,"
Werner Heider's "Divertimento" and
Lewis' inventive adaptation of "England's Carol") may not have had much potential, they avoid the potential pitfalls of being overly serious and pompous that sometimes plague similar works. "Around the Blues" has its swinging moments; most of the pieces are episodic, with good spots for
Jackson and
Lewis' soloing. Overall, this is a successful effort worth listening to several times. ~ Scott Yanow