Since its inception in 2011, LEGO® Ideas or CUUSOO as it was known back then has seen over 40 different sets released, inspired by a number of different subjects. Every single one was originally created by a LEGO fan before being voted into production by fellow LEGO fans and the LEGO Review Board. In recent years, some sets have been decided upon in a slightly different way and the set I’m taking a look at today was the result of a music-themed LEGO Ideas Contest. The Jazz Quartet was the original design of LEGO Fan Hsinwei Chi. Their design received the most fan votes in the Music to Our Ears Contest. So here’s a closer look at the 42nd LEGO Ideas set – The Jazz Quartet.
Product Details
Get into your groove and compose a jazz masterpiece. Create your own LEGO® Ideas Jazz Quartet (21334) featuring brick-built figures of a pianist, bassist, trumpeter and drummer in dynamic poses, plus highly detailed buildable models of their instruments – a grand piano, double bass, trumpet and drum kit.
Share the joy
This collectible display model makes a cool treat for yourself and the best gift for other jazz lovers and music fans in your life. Separate building instructions are included for each musician and instrument, so you can share the joyful creative experience with family, friends or bandmates. When the builds are complete, the quartet can be connected in whatever stage formation you prefer for display.
- Set Name: Jazz Quartet
- Set Number: 21334
- Pieces: 1606
- RRP: £89.99/$99.99/99.99€
- Number of Bags: Bags x 11 + loose elements
- Stickers: N/A
- Minifigures: N/A
- Instructions: Booklet x 1 + LEGO Building Instructions App
- Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online from July 1st – VIP Early Access June 28th
Jazz originated in New Orleans in the early 1900s but its golden age would arrive in the 1920s. The prohibition era resulted in the abundance of speakeasies. These underground clubs helped to propel the popularity of Jazz and it’s this golden era of the music which is commonly associated with the visuals of the genre, even today.
The original fan design, captured a highly stylised band of musicians, lost in the heady beats of jazz. With four performers each playing an instrument. The LEGO Ideas set doesn’t venture too far from Hsinwei Chi’s original design but does tweak it in significant ways. The stylised appearance has been kept as have the four performers, but a female performer has been added to the line-up and the band has been given a slightly different stage.
The set has been configured to be built in sections. This means each performer and their instruments have their own section of the stage, which can then be connected together to create a single performance stage. This also allows the set to be built by multiple people at the same time. Each musician has their own instruction booklet and element bags. So a group of four builders can gather together to build together.
Unconnected to the sectional builds, the set does sort of have the feeling of being two sets combined into one. The larger instruments alone could be a set without the figures to play them. The musicians also have a similar appearance to Miniland figures, but they are far more detailed and their poses give them a lot more character. The stylised appearance of the band evokes the style of artwork often used on 1920s posters. I could easily imagine the band as they are featured in this set, appearing on a beautifully illustrated poster on the wall of an art deco club. In fact, in the style of artwork used for the Instruction Book covers.
The trumpet player and bass player are the simplest of the four musicians to build and also have the least complex instruments. In the case of the trumpet player, his instrument is very simple. The bass is, of course much bigger, but is still not as element heavy as the drums or piano. I love the use of elements here as well with a Unikitty tail topping the doable bass and a blank game controller used for his bowtie.
As mentioned the line-up of performers has been changed to be a bit more diverse. The piano player has been switched from a man to a woman. This brings a splash of colour to the band as well as offers something unique to build as the rest of the band are quite similar. In fact, the piano and its player are the highlights of the set and require the most amount of building.
Although each performer has their own section of the stage, how they and their instruments are connected to it differs. So the Trumpet and Double Bass players are both partly built into the stage. Meaning their positioning is fixed. Whereas the Piano player and Drummer are both built independently of the stage and attached to their instruments. The same is partly true for the actual instruments, the Bass is attached to the stage by a ball joint but rests against its player. The piano can be completely detached from the stage and the drum is a mixture of both. Due to all the various parts of a drum kit, most are fixed to the stage but could be easily set up with it.
I will admit I was surprised when the set was chosen as the winner of the LEGO Ideas Contest and when I first got to see the final set, it didn’t grab me. This is why I appreciate being offered sets to review as after building it my opinions have greatly changed. It was a very enjoyable build. The combination of the figures and instruments offers a very different build experience, making the whole set quite unique. I still think the set will have a limited appeal but as it’s been consistently proven, the LEGO fan base has vastly changed. The scope of those who build LEGO sets has evolved far beyond Castle and Space fans. New sets can even attract a whole new audience. This is one of those sets, a set which may not appease ‘classic’ LEGO fans but could tempt new one. I certainly implore you to give it a try if you have even the smallest interest in it. As it was enjoyable to build and makes a unique display piece. The LEGO Ideas Jazz Quartet set launches on July 1st with early VIP access from June 28th.
Review Round-up
It made not have the spectacle of a Ship in a Bottle or Typewriter and it may not have the mass appeal of a beloved movie or game franchise, but it does offer something different and something unique. You may not have voted for it nor does it appeal to your particular interests but that should take away from how interesting the set is and the fact it offers something new. I’ve always admired the LEGO Ideas theme and how it showcases fan designs but also how versatile LEGO bricks can be both in terms of what you can create with them and how those creations can inspired people beyond the average LEGO fan. This set is a good example of that.
For
+ Ability to group build
+ Genuinely fun build experience
+ Instruments look amazing
Against
– Could have limited appeal
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This set was provided to BricksFanz by the LEGO Group for purposes of review. The thoughts within this review are that of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
20th June 2022
So, they’re prints? I feel like I’ve been holding my breath for days. No one was able to tell me.
20th June 2022
I’m not sure I follow, are what prints? If it’s the number on the drum then yes that’s a print but there aren’t any other details on any of the elements.
20th June 2022
Yes, I was wondering about the 7s. Thank you so much! TC…