What many music fans don’t realize is that much of what became known as Modern Jazz or “Bebop” was actually inspired by the baroque music of JS Bach. Don’t believe me? Take a “Concerto Grosso” by Bach, and see how closely related it is to Charlie Parker’s “Moose The Mooche”, almost note for note, except with a bit of synchronization and adding a few flats here and there.
One of the major players in this amalgam of bop and Bach was pianist John Lewis. Before he became an integral part of the famed Modern Jazz Quartet, he was one of the founding fathers of heat seeking bebop missile. This 3 disc, 75 song collection is an anthology of his groundbreaking work in a variety of settings. His cool tone sets the pace for the landmark Miles Davis sessions from 1946 that delivered classics like “Milestones” and “Half Nelson” while his short stint with Dizzy Gillespie’s Orchestra gave us the standard “Two Bass Hit”. Lewis is part of Charlie Parker’s rhythm session on important pieces such as “Parker’s Move” and “Marmaduke” while showing hints of Birth of the Cool with Miles Davis on “Boplicity”, “Rocker” and “Venus De Milo”
His most swinging moments have him with breathy tenors Zoot Sims, Illinois Jacquet, and Lester Young , with sublime support on “Dancing In The Dark”, “Big Foot” and “Undercover Girl Blues”, respectively. A portend of things to come are heard with his sessions with vibist Milt Jackson on a pre-MJQ’d “Bags Groove”, “Bluesology” and “What’s New?”. What’s most fun about this collection is that, yes, there are some real nice solos by the pianist, but when things get real fun when you pay special attention and listen to his clever comping behind the soloists like JJ Johnson, Young, Sims and Davis. Classy and glassy tones from the rococo fingers of jazz piano.