The Manhattan Jazz Quintet is a jazz ensemble consisting of David Matthews on piano, Lew Soloff on trumpet, Victor Lewis on drums, Andy Snitzer on saxophone, and Charnett Moffett on bass. Previously, the band featured George Young on tenor sax, Eddie Gómez on bass, and Steve Gadd on drums.
The group was formed in 1983 at the suggestion of Japanese jazz magazine Swing Journal and the King record label and won the Gold Disk Award of Swing in 1984.
Gadd left in 1987, with Dave Weckl serving as a replacement in 1988 and 1989, but came back for a reunion in 1990, with John Scofield as guest artist on a number of selections. These later recordings were recorded for the Sweet Basil label.
Gomez left the band after the recording of Manteca in 1992 and was replaced by Charnett Moffett. Gadd left the band, with Victor Lewis becoming his permanent replacement in 1993; Young left in 2000 and was replaced by Andy Snitzer.::Metropolis Tokyo :: OUT ON THE TOWN Lew Soloff died on March 8, 2015
Due to the group's albums limited distribution in other countries (albums are only available as imports from Japan), it is not well known outside Japan.
Discography Album nameYear releasedLabelReferences/notes Manhattan Jazz Quintet discography unless otherwise noted Manhattan Jazz Quintet 1984 King Autumn Leaves 1985 King My Funny Valentine 1986 King The Sidewinder 1986 King Live 1986 ProJazz Live At Pit Inn 1986 King My Favorite Things: Live In Tokyo 1987 King Caravan 1988 King with Dave Weckl on drums Face to Face 1988 King with Dave Weckl on drums Plays Blue Note 1988 King with Dave Weckl on drums; The Best of Manhattan Jazz Quintet 1988 Projazz (compilation) Manhattan Blues 1990 Sweet Basil/Peter Pan (?) with Steve Gadd on drumsre-released by Video Arts on November 21, 2001 Funky Strut 1991 Sweet Basil with Peter Erskine on drumsre-released by Video Arts on November 21, 2001 Manteca (live) 1992 Evidence with Peter Erskine on drumsre-released by Video Arts on November 21, 2001 Autumn in New York 1993 Sweet Basil with Victor Lewis on drumsre-released by Video Arts on November 21, 2001 Concierto de Aranjuez 1994 Sweet Basil Amazon.com – Concierto de AranjuezAmazon.com – Concierto de Aranjuez with both Gadd & Lewis on drums and both Moffett & Gomez on bassre-released by Video Arts on November 21, 2001 Moritat 1995 Peter Pan with Victor Lewis on drums (and all albums after this point) The Original Voice 1995 Sweet Basil re-released by Video Arts on November 21, 2001 La Fiesta 1997 Sweet Basil Amazon.com – La Fiesta Air on the G String 1997 Sweet Basil Amazon.com – Air on the G String 'Round Midnightwith Terumasa Hino 1998 Sweet Basil Amazon.com – 'Round Midnight Teen Town 2000 Video Arts re-released by Video Arts on March 21, 2007 I Got Rhythm 2001 Video Arts re-released by Video Arts on March 21, 2007 Take Five: Live at the Symphony Hall with Century Orchestra Osaka 2001 Video Arts Blue Bossa 2003 Video Arts Take The A Train 2004 Video Arts re-released by Video Arts on March 21, 2007 Come Together 2005 Video Arts ArtistDirect.com – Come Together Someday My Prince Will Come 2007 Video Arts ArtistDirect.com – Someday My Prince Will Come Best of best 2000-2007 selected by Shigeyuki Kawashima 2008 Video Arts (compilation) V.S.O.P: Very Special Onetime Performance 2008 King with Steve Gadd on drums and Eddie Gomez on bass Best of Best ?? Sweet Basil (compilation) – includes recordings from 1990, 1992, 1993, and 1994;Amazon.com – Best of Best
Manhattan Jazz Quintet also recorded Good King Wenceslas for the compilation CD Chiaroscuro Christmas.Amazon.com: Chiaroscuro Christmas: Music: Various Artists
Filmography Album nameYear releasedDistributorReferences/notes Live at Quatro ?? Music Video Distributors (??) VHS of 1990 live concertRottenTomatoes.com – Live at Quatro Live in Tokyo 2005 2006 Video Arts DVD of live performance; released on May 31, 2006; re-released on September 24, 2008
References
External links MJQ artist page at Video Arts Music