MAO Legendás Albumok | Jay Jay Johnson with Clifford Brown

The significance of the Blue Note record label can hardly be overestimated. After 1945, the famous albums with the blue note label recorded the pioneers of bebop, followed by the defining small ensemble recordings of the hard bop era – these became the eternal highlights of jazz. The soloists of the Modern Art Orchestra revisit moments captured on the blue and white label records, drawing on recordings from the first great era.

Although 29-year-old Jay Jay (later J.J.) Johnson retired from full-time music for a while in 1953, it was thanks to this record that he returned and became one of the greatest jazz trombonists. Trumpeter Clifford Brown is even younger on the recording. The entire rhythm section—John Lewis, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke—had already begun building the Modern Jazz Quartet brand (with Milt Jackson), and saxophonist Jimmy Heath is none other than Percy's younger brother. Johnson can play every mood on his difficult instrument, Heath is just getting rid of the compulsion to imitate Charlie Parker as he switches from alto to tenor and baritone, and Brown pours out breathtaking runs with an almost adolescent fervor. Kornél Fekete-Kovács will invoke Brown, Mátyás Papp will invoke Johnson, and Kristóf Bacsó will be on tenor.