Quartets 4 X 4


Quartets 4 X 4 is a 1980 album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, released on the Milestone label. It was recorded in March and May 1980 by Tyner with bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Al Foster and featuring trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, guitarist John Abercrombie, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe, each for one side of the original double LP. The album was digitally remastered and first issued on a single CD in 1993.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states: "This collection is a fine all-around showcase for the brilliant pianist even if no new ground is broken".
The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz are "pretty disappoint, given the personnel. Everyone plays politely rather than with any pressing need to communicate anything, and as a result it's perhaps the meeting with Hutcherson which comes off best".

Track listing

  1. "Inner Glimpse" - 6:18
  2. "Manhã de Carnaval" - 5:19
  3. "Paradox" - 6:51
  4. "Backward Glance" - 9:11
  5. "Forbidden Land" - 10:39
  6. "Pannonica" - 5:57
  7. "I Wanna Stand over There" - 5:19
  8. "The Seeker" - 7:38
  9. "Blues in the Minor" - 8:05
  10. "Stay as Sweet as You Are" - 4:36
  11. "It's You or No One" - 6:27

Personnel