MODERN JAZZ QUARTET, (orig. c1947 in New York; fl. 1952-74). The group, which was organized informally about 1947 by members of
John Birks (Dizzy
) Gillespie's
orchestra, included
Milton (Milt
) Jackson
, vibraharp; John Lewis, piano;
Ray Brown
, bass; and Kenneth (Kenny
or Klook
) Clarke, drums. These men occasionally played together during performances to allow the orchestra's brass players opportunity to rest after particularly demanding music. Eventually the quartet began...
