The Classical Jazz Quartet was a

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

quartet that existed in the early 2000s. It consisted of four established jazz performers playing

classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...

interpretations written, arranged and produced by

Bob Belden James Robert Belden (October 31, 1956 – May 20, 2015) was an American saxophonist, arranger, composer, bandleader, and producer. As a composer he may be best known for his Grammy Award winning orchestral jazz recording, ''Black Dahlia'' (2001) ...

and Suzanne Severini. In this the "CJQ" followed in the footsteps of the

Modern Jazz Quartet The Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) was a jazz combo established in 1952 that played music influenced by classical music, classical, cool jazz, blues and bebop. For most of its history the Quartet consisted of John Lewis (pianist), John Lewis (piano), ...

(MJQ, 1952-1997, using the same instrumentation), and the Jacques Loussier Trio (1959-2019, minus the vibraphone).

Band members

Kenny Barron Kenny Barron (born June 9, 1943) is an American jazz pianist, who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since the bebop era. Biography Born in Philadel ...

– piano *

Stefon Harris Stefon DeLeon Harris (born March 23, 1973) is an American jazz vibraphonist. Biography A native of Albany, New York, Harris intended to work for the New York Philharmonic until he heard the music of Charlie Parker. During the 1990s he recorded ...

– vibes, marimba *

Ron Carter Ronald Levin Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double bassist. His appearances on 2,221 recording sessions make him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. He has won three Grammy awards, and is also a cellist who has recorded nu ...

– bass *

Lewis Nash Lewis Nash (born December 30, 1958) is an American jazz drummer. According to ''Modern Drummer'' magazineNashhas one of the longest discographies in jazz and has played on over 400 records, earning him the honor of Jazz's Most Valuable Player ...

– drums

Discography

*''Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker'' (2001, Vertical Jazz), reissued as ''The Classical Jazz Quartet Play Tchaikovsky'' (Kind of Blue Records, 2006) *''The Classical Jazz Quartet Plays Bach'' (Vertical Jazz, 2002) *''The Classical Jazz Quartet Play Rachmaninov'' (recorded 2002, released May 16, 2006, Kind of Blue Records). The recording consists of

Rachmaninov Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff; in Russian pre-revolutionary script. (28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of ...

's '' Piano Concerto No. 2.'' *''Christmas'' (Kind of Blue Records, 2006)(a compilation of six tracks from ''Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker,'' one from ''Plays Bach'' and a previously unreleased version of

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

's ''

Messiah (Handel) ''Messiah'' (HWV 56) is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel. The text was compiled from the King James Bible and the Coverdale Bible, Coverdale Psalter by Charles Jennens. It was first performed in Dublin o ...

'') allmusic ((( Classical Jazz Quartet > Discography > Main Albums )))/ref> *''The Complete Recordings'' (compilation, Recordings Arts, 2004) *''Anthology'' (incomplete compilation, Il Sole 24 ore, 2011)

References

External links

* Allmusic history {{Authority control American jazz ensembles Musical quartets Contemporary classical music ensembles