Following in the footsteps of vibes-jazz originator Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson quickly left his mark on the late ‘40s and ‘50s. “Bags”—so nicknamed for the circles under his eyes—didn't just play in the all-star band that graced Miles Davis' Bags' Groove, he also wrote the title track, which soon became a standard. His lyrical touch was a perfect fit for John Lewis' Modern Jazz Quartet, too. Though Jackson experimented with other styles in his career—check out Herbie Hancock's electric piano touches on Bags' Sunflower album—his elegant playing was a reliable constant.