* En anglais uniquement
For two months shy of 40 years (including seven years in which the group was on "vacation"),
Connie Kay was the drummer/percussionist with
the Modern Jazz Quartet. His subtle contributions (showing both restraint and swing) were an invaluable asset to the group. Self-taught on the drums,
Kay played in the mid-'40s with
Sir Charles Thompson,
Miles Davis, and
Cat Anderson. He was in
Lester Young's quintet off and on during 1949-1955, a period in which
Kay also worked with
Beryl Booker,
Stan Getz,
Coleman Hawkins, and
Charlie Parker, among others. In February 1955, he joined
the MJQ, traveling the world with the band up until they called it "quits" in 1974. During that era, he also appeared as a guest on small-group dates by
Chet Baker,
Cannonball Adderley,
Jimmy Heath, and
Paul Desmond/
Jim Hall. During 1975-1981,
Kay worked with
Tommy Flanagan,
Soprano Summit,
Benny Goodman (including his 40th anniversary Carnegie Hall concert), and was the house drummer at
Eddie Condon's club. He spent his last 13 years back with
the MJQ;
Mickey Roker filled in when he was ill and
Albert "Tootie" Heath took over the drum slot after
Connie Kay's death. ~ Scott Yanow