by Scott Yanow
This is a strong recording from the Modern Jazz Quartet, with inventive versions of John Lewis' &Vendome,& Ray Brown's &Pyramid,& Jim Hall's &Romaine,& and Lewis' famous &Django,& along with cooking jams on &How High the Moon& and &It Don't Mean a Thing.& The MJQ had become a jazz institution by this time, but they never lost their creative edge, and their performances (even on the remakes) are quite stimulating, enthusiastic, and fresh.