A fine re-mastered vinyl from a great tenor saxophonist.
David Murray – Lucky Four – Enjoy Records (1989)/Pure Pleasure Records (2023) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 44:52 ****:
(David Murray – tenor saxophone, bass clarinet; Dave Burrell – piano; Wilbert Morris – double bass; Victor Lewis – drums)
David Murray is an accomplished tenor saxophonist who also is proficient on bass clarinet. He is a founder of the World Saxophone Quartet. Murray has recorded with McCoy Tyner, James Blood Ulmer, Ed Blackwell and Randy Weston. His style is diverse, influenced by both free jazz and traditional saxophonists. He is a proponent of circular breathing, and has performed with The Grateful Dead. Pure Pleasure Records has released a 180-gram re-mastered vinyl of Murray’s 1989 album, Lucky Four. His quartet includes Dave Burrell (piano), Wilbert Morris (double bass) and Victor lewis (drums). This album is a collection of diverse musical stylings. Side A opens with “Valley Talk”. With a flowing tango motif, Murray and Burrell combine on a precise unison lead. Morris’ bass warmly envelops the song. There is a hypnotic pulse as Murray solos with Burrell adding counterpoint flourishes. The warm tonality is effective. The quartet reunites for the last verse. A Charles Mingus tribute number (“Chazz”) is a bluesy late night old school jam. Burrell kicks it off with tinkling piano, and Murray intones on bass clarinet. His soloing is punctuated with stretching tonality. Lewis’ play is emphatic and is a nice match with Burrell. As Murray increases the heat, Burrell cools it down, but adds improvisational trills. Morris’ run is sinewy amid a vocal exhortation. Picking up the pace, “As I Woke” feels like a bop arrangement as Murray returns to tenor. It is hard-driving and Murray’s lead is muscular and uninhibited. Burrell is also energetic, playing with rhythm and force. There are moments of near-dissonance and the rhythm section is relentless.
In another “blues variation”, “Strollin’” (a tribute to Jean Michel Basquiat) is very gritty, with an urban visceral resonance. It is concise (under 3 minutes) and has a jaunty cadence. In an expanded arrangement, “Abel’s Blissed Out Blues” is more deliberate with a funky first verse piano lead. Murray joins in unison and delivers a silky performance with deep feeling and soaring lines. His capacity to amp up the feeling and then get mellow is accessible. Again, Burrell’s counterpoint is compelling. This may be the most traditional number on this album. Morris’ solo is framed by a hushed solitude. Then at the 5:20 mark. Burrell and the rhythm section transition to a gospel-infused structure as Murray wails on his tenor. The quartet powers through with Lewis bringing it home at the end. The finale (“Sharing”) is breezy and melodic with Murray in the lead before turning it over to Burrell. This smoother track has a medium swing tempo and adds a lighter, cool jazz touch.
Lucky Four is a fine album by a talented quartet. This pressing has little surface noise and there were minimal hisses and pops. The stereo separation is pristine.
—Robbie Gerson
David Murray – Lucky Four
TrackList;
Side A:
Valley Talk; Chazz (for Charles Mingus); As I Woke
Side B:
Strollin’ (for Jean Michel Basquiat); Abel’s Bliissed Out Blues; Sharing
