The MJT+3: "Message from Walton Street"

The MJT+3 was a band put together in Chicago by Chicagoans, Walter Perkins, a fine drummer and bassist Bob Cranshaw. They worked a lot together in the Windy City and backed many a visiting Jazz star and great locals too. They called themselves the MJT and that stood for "The Modern Jazz Two". They decided to form a band, a quintet and they called it The MJT+3. After some shifting in personnel the group settled on alto saxophonist/flutist Frank Strozier and trumpet ace Willy Thomas. The pianist was the formidable Harold Mabern. They made 3 albums that were well received by fans and critics for the Chicago label Vee-Jay Records. On tonight's Jazz Feature that was never issued on LP back then but discovered in 2000 and issued on CD on Koch Jazz. It turned out to be their last album before they all moved to New York and the band dissolved after a few NYC engagements. The album title was "Message from Walton Street" which was Walter Perkins' house in Chicago where they rehearsed. The music is energetic, fresh and cohesive and you have to realize what a fine little band was The MJT+3. That's what will be heard tonight on The Jazz Show.