The Modern Jazz Quartet – The Sheriff (Pure Pleasure)

The Modern Jazz Quartet (John Lewis (p); Milt Jackson (vib); Percy Heath (b); Connie Kay (dr)

Recorded in 1963, "The Sheriff" presents the Modern Jazz Quartet in excellent, swinging form. The program is not as tightly focused as some of the earlier Atlantic releases, but it is compelling nonetheless. There are four compositions by pianist John Lewis, including the light, bluesy title track and the moody, extended "In a Crowd" - originally composed for the 1961 film "A Milanese Story."

Milt Jackson's dominant time signatures and series of phrases anchor the tune to the blues, but Lewis' solo feels more like a solo trumpet taking center stage. Included in the set is Heitor Villa-Lobos' "Bachianas Brasileiras," a classical piece the quartet premiered with guitarist Laurindo Almeida. Bassist Percy Heath is the star here, playing both arco and pizzicato, alternately driving the work forward with skill and precision. Lewis and Jackson provide beautiful counterpoints throughout, and the piece is gnarly but exotic and beautiful.

Another Latin work is Luiz Bonfa's brilliant "Carnival," which closes the set. Jackson's melodic interplay with Connie Kay's broom work on drums is as subtle as it is lush, moving through a series of verses before Jackson's solo turns the piece into blues. Lewis keeps time while Heath accentuates the backbeat.