This Atlantic release has some unusual performances by
the Modern Jazz Quartet. Two selections ("Da Capo" and "Fine") combine
the MJQ, which is comprised of vibraphonist
Milt Jackson, pianist
John Lewis, bassist
Percy Heath, and drummer
Connie Kay, with
the Jimmy Giuffre 3 (
Giuffre on clarinet and tenor, with guitarist
Jim Hall and bassist
Ralph Pena) on "Exposure"; six chamber classical musicians add color, and a pair of other numbers ("Conversation" and the very successful "Sketch") match
the MJQ with the Beaux Arts String Quartet. There is plenty of thought-provoking music on this disc even if the idea of creating a third stream between jazz and classical music never came to pass.