Jazz Quartet
tagStarted early 1940sPeak 1952–1965Last big hit still active
The jazz quartet strips the combo down further, making every part more exposed and the rhythm-section conversation more audible.
History
Quartets could be piano-led, saxophone-led, or rhythm-section-centered, but in modern jazz they often became the vehicle for especially tight group identity. Monk, Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Branford Marsalis, and many others used the format for maximum interaction with minimal clutter.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- quartet-format histories
- modern-combo references
- post-bop and straight-ahead discographies.