European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 1, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Mode Mazz quartet still Mellow after 35 years by John Windrow staff writer Hen the modern jazz quartet Broka up in 1974, Down beat Magazine was inconsolable saying it was like the abrupt disintegration Oil. Rushmore and Lor nine years the group Hal emerged rom the rhythm Section of dirty Gillespie s big band after world War ii was in pieces each member going his own musical Way. They reunited in 1983, and Are still pouring out the honeyed Lonea that have made the group a jazz giant Tor three decades. This year the mjg celebrates its 35lh anniversary. The personnel John Lewis on piano. Milt Jackson on vibes Percy Heath on Bass and Connie Kay on Drums have not changed since 1955. Probably no changes would be welcomed by their fans Many of them now grading at the temples like the quartet they be been following through innumerable concerts ours and More Ihan 40 albums the fans turned Oul at the elegant modernistic  in Frankfurt thursday night the Way they reacted during the concert to old mjg favourites and the solos by each of lha four musicians indicated Many of them were followers of Long standing. When you coma to hear us Kay said you know what to expect. They re fans most of the people who  Jackson the masterful vibes Man said of the group s audiences there s a combination of iwo generations. The older people that followed the mjg Lor 35 years and younger people who Are being exposed to the music for he first  Jackson said College students often approach him after performances and express enthusiasm for the group and ask if they be made any recordings. You John Lelm left and Percy Heath right bae towage during Modam jazz quartet concert in Frank tort Mitja Dutton master Ottlie Viti Rahart just have to laugh he said. The Appeal of Mojo is the fact that they play As a group and produce an identifiable Mellow sound based in the blues and swing. There Are no endless solos none of the wild rantings in so much modern jazz that seem to reject Harmony and rhythm. Mjg appears to have its collective feet firmly in the classics. Much of the group s recordings have had a definite baroque Bent pianist Lewis a member of the music faculty Al new York s i a College writes the group s compositions and directs the band on stage. He said his favorite music aside from jazz is the classics. His favorite pianist not Art Tatum or Bud Powell. No Lewis said. It s a Young yugoslavian pianist named  they walk on stage in tuxedos their trademark. We be done it All through the years Jackson said. When i was a kid we had a lot of respect for Duke Ellington s band and bands like thai. If you re wearing sneakers and a dirty to shirt it does l make you play any better. Jazz a Black creation should have As much respect As classical  when mjg look off so Many years ago they were seen As a reaction against tie excesses of bebop the Well rehearsed elegant sound of a group of jazz musicians playing together. That s the Challenge Lewis said smiling and we work at  they were working Well in Frankfurt Starling Oil with reunion blues. We be been reunited since 19b1," Jackson told the crowd and this is 35  it was Jackson who broke up the group in 1974. Tha reason was personal financial disappointment he said to fell disappointed. I knew what we represented to the world of  the disappointment was that Rock stars were hauling of All the loot and the Wjt was t gelling Rich. When the group broke up Lewis told the new Fork times Milt is being shortsighted. The Rock stars he is talking Aboul Are in show business they re entertainers. We re  they got Back together in 1981 for a concert tour in Japan. We Sal Down and decided to iry it again Jackson said and there were some bet or  after reunion blues the group performed echoes. While Kay and Heath carried them along with the Tempo and rhythm Lewis and Jackson tossed the number Back and Forth like a soap Bubble one caressing the keys of the piano and the other answering on the reverberating vibes. We have tour or live programs that we play Jackson said. All programs Are written by Lewis but there s always room for improvisation. The music s Laid out that  the sound weaves Itsell into a smooth seam but four distinct artists Are in the so Llight in the darkened Hall. Lewis Sils Al the piano always smiling nodding and poised Over the keys almost hesitant before he plays. Health seems unconscious of the others hunching a i his big Rich base his head cocked to one Side As to he s listening Lor something far away. Kay big and bold sits Al the Drums like a judge in a courtroom but strokes the snares and cymbals Ever so softly. That s my style he said. I enjoy it. I Stilt play what i want to play. When i play with a group Wilh horns i play a Lille monday Junel 1987 louder. But not loud he said quickly. Nol  Jackson s Vibra Harp gives the group its distinctive sound and is the most easily recognizable instrument. When he plays he is hunched Over tha vibes intense head Down striking each note with an exact precision. Finished he Steps Back Oul of the Light drops his arms to his sides and wanders a bit or stands quietly alongside Kay in the Shadow watching him work the Drums. Each of them played a Solo or As they say each was featured on a different number. Heath starred on Lewis composition d and one of the group s Standard numbers stroking his Bass like the old Friend it is. Jackson under a Blue Light wailed on the Standard nature boy moving from improvisation to improvisation from straight and Sweet to swinging to almost a bebop beat. Lewis shone on another Earty composition of his Milano. Kay had his moment with Sasha s March. He stroked the snares and splashed the cymbals with a military rat a Tat Lal while the other three kept time repeating a single note on the piano Bass and vibes. While each of the musicians is a recognised virtuoso none of their solos was very Long we iry a Iresh approach Jackson said. Long solos can be Boring. Thai s a lesson i Learned from Charlie Parker. He said. Man after you play the fourth course you re practising. You practice Al Home " through it All from new compositions to standards such As Willow weep for my. It was obvious that the modern jazz quartet had done its Homework. The modern jazz quartet performs in Stull Gart  1, Munich of Utschen museum Juna 2, Mannheim Mozart Saal june 3, Dusseldorf to Halle june 4 and Hannover Kuppe Saal june s. For More information watch on stage in stripes Magazine every week. Drummer Connie Kay who never Playa loud. Photo the stars and stripes Page 17