AAA 100% Analogue This LP was Remastered using Pure Analogue Components Only from the Master Tapes through to the Cutting Head

Pure Pleasure / Atlantic PPAN SD3125  - 180 Gram Virgin Vinyl 

AAA 100%  Analogue  -  Pressed at Pallas Germany - Limited Edition

Mastered by Ray Staff at Air London - Atlantic SD 3125

This is a strong recording from the Modern Jazz Quartet, with inventive versions of John Lewis' "Vendome," Ray Brown's "Pyramid," Jim Hall's "Romaine," and Lewis' famous "Django," along with cooking jams on "How High the Moon" and "It Don't Mean a Thing." The MJQ had become a jazz institution by this time, but they never lost their creative edge, and their performances (even on the remakes) are quite stimulating, enthusiastic, and fresh.

By the time Pyramid was released in 1960, the MJQ had moved into celebrated status and the two distinguishing voices in the band, Jackson’s vibes and Lewis’ piano, seemed to find common ground in the counterpoint arrangements that dominated their play-book. The Paris-inspired theme continues with the opening track Vendome and it is easy to imagine the cars darting around the monument in the center of the Place, as Jackson and Lewis play off each other in Bach-like fashion.

 The title track Pyramid (Blues For Junior) is the album’s signature track coming in at close to eleven minutes. It starts off in a slow blues funeral-march tempo then segues into a more funky rhythm with Jackson’s vibes in the forefront. Lewis then picks up the line with some of his signature single note ruminations. The composition moves forward with some text-book vibes/piano interplay with Kay’s drums in the background and Heath’s warm–toned bass providing support.

Re-mastering by: Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London
 
With such a tight group as the MJQ is is impossible to single out individual musicians which probably accounts for their long lived success.
This is a strong recording from the Modern Jazz Quartet, with inventive versions of John Lewis' "Vendome," Ray Brown's "Pyramid," Jim Hall's "Romaine," and Lewis' famous "Django," along with cooking jams on "How High the Moon" and "It Don't Mean a Thing." The MJQ had become a jazz institution by this time, but they never lost their creative edge, and their performances (even on the remakes) are quite stimulating, enthusiastic, and fresh.                   Scott Yanow/AMG
 
Every track is a gem, the stand out track being "Django" (recorded many times; is this the definitive version? I think so). The title track (written by Ray Brown) is "Pyramid" (11 min) which is also a pearl.                        R Bawden

Musicians:
John Lewis, piano
Milt Jackson, vibraharp
Percy Heath, bass
Connie Kay, drums

Selections:
Side A:
1. Vendome
2. Pyramid
3. It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)
Side B:
1. Django
2. How High The Moon
3. Romaine

Recorded August 1959 at Music Inn, Lennox

Recording Engineers – Tom Dowd, Earle Brown & Johnny Cue
Supervised by Nesuhi Ertegun