With their cool, group-oriented sound, bop-inflected improvisations, and classical chamber aesthetics, the Modern Jazz Quartet rose to prominence in the '50s, expanding the jazz paradigm and bridging the gap between smoky jazz clubs and prestigious concert halls. The quartet issued a number of critically acclaimed albums and spawned a handful of classic jazz standards, including their signature 1952 song "Bag's Groove," "Vendome" (originally on 1954's MJQ), and "Django" (from 1956's Django). Never straying from their high standards, they enjoyed a four-decade-plus career and explored an array of settings, including collaborations with saxophonist Sonny Rollins and Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida, large ensemble recordings like 1960's The Modern Jazz Quartet and Orchestra, and forays into soul jazz and other global traditions.