The Greatest Jazz Quartets Ever — 12 Groups That Made Jazz History

Four musicians, one room, and a sound that could change the direction of jazz. Which quartets actually rewrote the rules, and what was happening behind the recordings? A great jazz quartet has nowhere to hide. Every note is heard, every hesitation becomes part of the music, and the best groups create something none of the players could make alone. In this Jazz Noir documentary, we count down twelve quartets whose work changed the sound, direction, or possibilities of jazz. This is not a claim that every group was universally crowned the greatest. It is a journey through twelve very different bands, from the swing era to the 21st century, and the stories behind their music. In this film: Benny Goodman Quartet: Goodman, Teddy Wilson, Lionel Hampton, and Gene Krupa, and the 1936 recordings “Dinah” and “Moonglow” Gerry Mulligan–Chet Baker Quartet: the pianoless quartet that came out of Los Angeles in 1952, and “Bernie’s Tune” Dave Brubeck Quartet: Time Out, “Blue Rondo à la Turk,” and “Take Five” Modern Jazz Quartet: John Lewis, Milt Jackson, and the tribute “Django” Sonny Rollins: the one-session studio quartet behind Saxophone Colossus, with “St. Thomas” and “Blue 7” Thelonious Monk Quartet: Charlie Rouse and the album Monk’s Dream Ornette Coleman Quartet: The Shape of Jazz to Come and “Lonely Woman” John Coltrane Classic Quartet: A Love Supreme Keith Jarrett American Quartet: Death and the Flower Charles Lloyd Quartet: Forest Flower, recorded live at Monterey in 1966 Stan Getz Quartet: the 1964 group with Gary Burton and Getz Au Go Go Wayne Shorter Quartet: Footprints Live! and Without a Net We also explain why one group you might expect to find on a list like this is missing: the history says it was never really a quartet. If you love jazz history, jazz legends, classic jazz records, or documentaries about the musicians behind the music, stay to the final group. The countdown builds toward a quartet that shows what a jazz band can still discover after decades of playing. Which jazz quartet do you believe changed jazz the most, and which group would you add to the list? Tell us in the comments. Your suggestions help shape what we explore next. If you enjoy stories about the lives behind the records, subscribe to Jazz Noir and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the next documentary. #JazzQuartets #jazzhistory #jazzlegends #jazznoir #JazzDocumentary #classicjazz #modernjazz #jazzmusic #johncoltrane #davebrubeck #TheloniousMonk #stangetz #WayneShorter #ornettecoleman #keithjarrett