The Modern Jazz Quartet - The Comedy
One of the Modern Jazz Quartet's most ambitious and rewarding recordings, The Comedy finds pianist John Lewis drawing inspiration from the Italian theatrical tradition of Commedia dell'arte. The resulting suite blends classical structure with jazz improvisation in a way that became the quartet's hallmark. Lewis's elegant compositions are brought vividly to life by the lyrical vibraphone of Milt Jackson, the superbly supportive rhythm section of Percy Heath and Connie Kay, and the ensemble's extraordinary sense of balance, subtlety, and swing. The album also features a memorable guest appearance by Diahann Carroll, adding another theatrical dimension to this unique work.
Originally recorded in New York, with producer Nesuhi Ertegun and legendary engineer Tom Dowd, The Comedy remains one of the finest examples of chamber jazz. Its warm, natural sound and sophisticated musical architecture continue to reward repeated listening, showcasing a quartet whose artistry transcended stylistic boundaries. More than sixty years after its release, this landmark recording stands as one of the Modern Jazz Quartet's most imaginative and enduring achievements.
Artist(s): Composed By - John Lewis
Piano - John Lewis
Bass - Percy Heath
Vibraphone - Milt Jackson
Drums - Connie Kay
Lead Vocals - Diahann Carroll
Recording Info: Recorded in New York City
October 20, 1960 - January 22-24, 1962
Supervised By - Nesuhi Ertegun
Engineer - Tom Dowd
Sourced from a 15ips tape
Components used for Transfer:
This transfer leverages precision analog playback and mastering-grade digital conversion. The signal path begins with a modified Studer A810 with Flux Heads, fed through a Merrill Audio Master MX Tape Head Preamp. The analog signal is converted via a Merging Hapi converter, synchronized to an Antelope Audio 10MX atomic clock for temporal accuracy. All components receive isolated power conditioning through a Shunyata Research Everest 8000 with Shunyata Sigma-X power cords, while grounding infrastructure utilizes Shunyata ALTAIRA hubs to minimize noise floor and preserve sonic detail throughout the transfer chain.
1 Spanish Steps 5:35
2 Columbine 4:10
3 Pulcinella 4:20
4 Pierrot 3:23
5 La Cantatrice 4:58
6 Harlequin 6:58
7 Piazza Navona 5:11
Please Note: This release was edited in DXD PCM from a DSD256 Master, then the DXD edited master was used to generate the final DSD files using Merging Technologies Album Publishing.
DXD (352.8KHz 24/32 bit PCM) is one of the best and least destructive formats for post-processing DSD originated digital recordings.
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