Not many jazz saxophone players bring most of the landmark stages of the instrument's evolution together in an on-the-fly improvisational setting without it sounding like musical tourism. Sonny Rollins and Joe Lovano are leading examples, and so is the majestic David Murray, who whirls up from romantic Ben Webster-like smoke-rings to vocalised free-jazz wails without dropping a stitch here. Murray is nowadays often to be found either paying creative tributes to John Coltrane, or making a ruggedly vivacious world music with non-jazz players from Morocco and elsewhere. But this reissued 1988 set represents Murray at his most accessible. From the opening Valley Talk, with it's intensifying showers of tenor-sax notes over a sultry tango, through the bluesy saunter of Chazz to the novelty song for Jean Michel Basquiat that becomes a brooding blues, the music is strong, sensuous, and effortlessly masterly in the way it's varied materials are juggled. It would make a fine Murray primer for newcomers. Lucky Four is a smooth and luscious quartet date with Murray in the company of longtime associate Dave Burrell, bassist Wilber Morris, and drummer Victor Lewis. With the exception of a short piece by his manager Kunle Mwanga, all of the pieces are by either Burrell or Morris, and most of them are gems. Sinuous and bluesy, with a rich interplay of rhythms and melodies, they are the ideal platform for a soloist like Murray: grounded enough to keep him from straying too far but deep enough for him to find plenty of goodies to unearth. Morris' 'Chazz,' dedicated to Charles Mingus, recalls the master with accuracy and affection, giving Murray a shot to wield his bass clarinet in homage to Dolphy and allowing the composer his own heartfelt homage. The highlight of the session is Burrell's wonderful composition, 'Abel's Blissed Out Blues,' a piece Murray would record often and an extremely infectious number. It begins with a moody, slow section and launches into an exuberant two-step that catapults Murray skyward with the rhythm section rocking away beneath. Two songs are given the repeat treatment, and they're enjoyable enough to make the exercise worthwhile. The late '80s produced some of Murray's strongest work in the quartet format, and Lucky Four fits in quite comfortably. Recommended.
Release date:
September 19, 2025
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.
Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
-
Technics SL-1500C Turntable
Features a direct-drive motor, a high-precision tonearm, and a premium MM cartridge, delivering exceptional sound quality
-
Cartridges - Top Picks
A selection of turnatble cartridges that provide great performance and sound quality
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
-
Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
SILVANA ESTRADA VENDRAN SUAVES LLUVIAS
Glassnote Music
December 12, 2025 -
Ashes And Diamonds Are Forever
Cleopatra Records
October 31, 2025 -
Daniel Avery Tremor [2xLP]
Domino Record Co
October 31, 2025 -
Radioactivity Time Won't Bring Me Down
Dirtnap Records
October 31, 2025 -
Ragana & Drowse Ash Souvenir
La Vida Es Un Mus
November 14, 2025 -
Various Artists Music For Everyone Vol .2 (OIxblood Aqua Blue Swirl) [2xLP]
Born Losers Records
November 21, 2025 -
James Nothing But Love: The Definitive Best Of [2xLP]
Mercury
November 21, 2025 -
The Rolling Stones Black and Blue Super Deluxe [6xLP]
Interscope
November 14, 2025 -
New Order Power, Corruption & Lies 2020
Rhino/Warner Records
October 31, 2025 -
SPACED No Escape
Pure Noise Records
November 7, 2025 -
Creem Circus Get. Switched. On!
Creep Records
November 14, 2025 -
Stellar Circuits Phantom : : Phoenix (Gold)
Nuclear Blast
November 14, 2025 -
Dijon Baby (Clear)
Warner Records
November 21, 2025 -
Mike Oldfield Amarok [2xLP]
Universal UK
November 7, 2025