MJQ Celebration at The Concorde

The ‘MJQ Celebration’ is a coming together of some of today’s most celebrated UK jazz musicians, to pay homage to one of the most celebrated jazz ensembles of all time, the ‘Modern Jazz Quartet’. Stellar favourites such as ‘Django’, ‘The Golden Striker’, ‘Bag’s Groove’ and ‘Concorde’ are given enthralling new renditions, whilst staying true to the original intentions of their composers John Lewis and Milt Jackson.

The group pay homage to their founder, the late Michael Garrick MBE, by including two of his finest original compositions, hand-picked by his bass player of choice, Matt Ridley. Teaming up for the session with stalwart UK saxophonist Dave O’Higgins, the ensemble also doff their cap to the collaboration between Sonny Rollins and the MJQ, featuring a rip-roaring version of ‘The Stopper’, as well as the more moderate (but no less compelling) ‘No Moe’ and ‘Scoops’....

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The ‘MJQ Celebration’ is a coming together of some of today’s most celebrated UK jazz musicians, to pay homage to one of the most celebrated jazz ensembles of all time, the ‘Modern Jazz Quartet’. Stellar favourites such as ‘Django’, ‘The Golden Striker’, ‘Bag’s Groove’ and ‘Concorde’ are given enthralling new renditions, whilst staying true to the original intentions of their composers John Lewis and Milt Jackson.

The group pay homage to their founder, the late Michael Garrick MBE, by including two of his finest original compositions, hand-picked by his bass player of choice, Matt Ridley. Teaming up for the session with stalwart UK saxophonist Dave O’Higgins, the ensemble also doff their cap to the collaboration between Sonny Rollins and the MJQ, featuring a rip-roaring version of ‘The Stopper’, as well as the more moderate (but no less compelling) ‘No Moe’ and ‘Scoops’.

After enjoying a number of exceptionally well received concerts in their original format (with Michael Garrick on piano), the group has survived Garrick’s untimely death by recruiting the fine young pianist Barry Green. In this format, the group have toured the UK and played sell out shows at prestigious venues such as the Purcell Room and Ronnie Scott’s.

Their eponymous album was released in April 2014 and has gained universal praise from critics and audiences alike. Cut entirely live in one day, with no fixes or overdubs, the album bears a freshness and excitement that not only champions the original MJQ, but also serves as an example of world-class jazz coming from the UK scene.

"An enormously entertaining project, already leaping on top of an early 'best of 2014' pile"- Adrian Pallant, London Jazz Blog

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