Is Concorde a good place to start with Modern Jazz Quartet?

Yes, Concorde is recommended as a starting point for new Modern Jazz Quartet listeners. Elegant harmonies and intricate rhythms weave together in the cool, contemplative soundscapes of modern jazz. Released in 1955, 'Concorde' was part of the Modern Jazz Quartet's early discography, following their breakout success with 'Fontessa' in 1956. This album solidified their reputation as pioneers of cool jazz, showcasing their unique blend of classical influence and improvisational finesse amidst a growing jazz landscape.

Concorde works well if you're into steady mid-tempo elegance, intricate rhythms for focus and morning coffee ambiance.

How many songs are on Concorde?

Concorde has 6 tracks, running approximately 36 minutes.

Concorde

Modern Jazz Quartet · 1955

36 min · 6 tracks · cool jazz

Elegant harmonies and intricate rhythms weave together in the cool, contemplative soundscapes of modern jazz.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Ralph's New Blues Start here — This track features an engaging interplay between piano and vibraphone, highlighting the group's signature blend of rhythm and melody that characterizes the album.
→
Gershwin Medley: Soon; For You; For Me; Forevermore; Love Walked In; Our Love Is Here to Stay — The medley showcases the quartet's ability to reinterpret classic standards with fresh harmonies and intricate textures, making it a centerpiece of their artistic identity.
→
Concorde — As the album's title track, it encapsulates the essence of the quartet's style, blending rhythmic innovation with lyrical beauty in a compact form.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

71 /100

Alpine

Higher than 95% of albums we've rated

The album showcases sophisticated arrangements and intricate rhythms characteristic of cool jazz.

What we noticed

The album features intricate interplay between piano, vibraphone, bass, and drums, creating a layered texture that invites close listening.
Each track maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace, allowing for extended improvisation without losing cohesion.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo elegance
intricate rhythms for focus
morning coffee ambiance
warm background for conversation

Maybe skip if you

prefer high-energy excitement
seek quick, standalone tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — 'Concorde' solidified their reputation as pioneers in the cool jazz movement.
Themes: 1950s cool elegance· intricate rhythmic interplay
Career context: Released in 1955, 'Concorde' was part of the Modern Jazz Quartet's early discography, following their breakout success with 'Fontessa' in 1956. This album solidified their reputation as pioneers of cool jazz, showcasing their unique blend of classical influence and improvisational finesse amidst a growing jazz landscape.
Stylistic neighbors: Bill Evans· Dave Brubeck· Gerry Mulligan

New to Modern Jazz Quartet? Find your way in →

Tracklist

1 Ralph's New Blues Start here 7:07
2 All of You 4:27
3 I'll Remember April 5:06
4 Gershwin Medley: Soon; For You; For Me; Forevermore; Love Walked In; Our Love Is Here to Stay 7:54
5 Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise 7:55
6 Concorde 3:38