Jazz vibraphonist Milt Jackson was born on January 1, 1923, in Detroit, Michigan. Jackson is best known as a member — and, according to Len Lyons, the "showpiece" — of the Modern Jazz Quartet.As Lyons notes, Jackson was "a spontaneous player and personality" and was "'emotionally contrapuntal' to the austere, restrained [John] Lewis." In fact, the differences between Jackson and Lewis led to the former's departure from the Modern Jazz Quartet in 1974.
In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the Modern Jazz Quartet's album, European Concert (Atlantic). The album is available from Amazon.com.
Jackson is highlighted here at the Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival in 1986 on his composition, "Bags' Groove":
Robert
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