Several years ago I became slightly obsessed with the Modem Jazz Quartet. Mostly, to start with, it was the look, based on this cover. I've been documenting my collecting on instagram.
And then I fell in love with the sound. I've always loved the pulse and textures of jazz. The swing and the groove. The harmonic shifts and atmospheres. The vibe and the vibes. But I quickly get bored with solos. Self- indulgent, showing off, blaring. I would happily listen to rhythm sections on their own. And the MJQ is like that. Restrained. Four musicians blending into something bigger. They're the Kraftwerk of jazz.
I've decided this year to assemble a 'jazzycoffeeshopvibe' set on vinyl. As singles. And the MJQ have to be in there - so this is single number 1.
Everything about it is gorgeous. The cover. The sound. It's 70 years old and you can get it on discogs for 99p. What a world. I'll always start with All The Things You Are.
Partly because it's so composed. In all senses. Partly because I know the song so well from endless listenings to the Peter Sellers version. One of the few records my parents had that I could bear.