Search - Teddy Charles :: Teddy Charles & The Prestige Jazz Quartet

The Splendid PJQ: the MQJ Alternative !

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 09/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Five Big Stars!! The PJQ was splendid! Formed at Prestige Records after the departure of the Modern Jazz Quartet, the PJQ was intended to avoid the MJQ's European/jazz forms for a more hard edged, stark, angular approach to jazz. To do this, Prestige turned to two of it's very best front line musicians: vibist Teddy Charles, a major composer/player who was already using modes, third-stream ideas, multi-parted songs, and odd time signatures long before Miles, Dave Brubeck, Gil Evans, and Jimmy Guiffre. In addition, Prestige turned to the awesome pianism of equally talented composer/ musician Mal Waldron, to fulfill the John Lewis role in the PJQ. Adding Addison Farmer, brother of flugelhornist Art Farmer, and Jerry Segal on drums formed a fabulous rock solid rhythm team. But the PJQ was a studio group that was destined to produce only one more fabulous album, "Teo Macero with the Prestige Jazz Quartet". Waldron and Charles also colloborated as members of Teddy's "New Directions" club groups. Also, the forward-looking album cover is a real attention getter in the great tradition of Prestige Records covers in mid-20th century jazz musicdom!



The dramatic, beautiful triptych, "Take Three Parts Jazz", is a real grabber, reminding me of snowy New Jersey in winter. Addison Farmer's bass introduction has stuck in my mind for decades along with Charles' nine note intro with some wonderfully fat and reverberating vibe notes. Awesomely beautiful kickoff to the album. Mal Waldron is mesmerizing throughout. The elegant shape-shifting "Meta-Waltz" is a waltz on steroids. The shimmering ballad "Dear Elaine" is truly starkly graceful. And Monk's "Friday the 13th" is a wonderful, hard-swinging examination of the Theonious composititon. It's too bad the PJQ did not record more, they had alot more to say and were a rewarding alternative to the MJQ while they lasted. Five Big Stars!!"