Three Quartets
Encyclopedia
Three Quartets is a jazz album released in 1981 by American jazz pianist Chick Corea
, in collaboration with saxophone giant Michael Brecker
, bassist Eddie Gomez
, and drummer Steve Gadd
. All compositions are by Corea who wanted to create an album of quartets like the many string quartets of the Baroque
, Classical
, Romantic
, and Impressionist
periods; however, he would use jazz instrumentation.
Quartet No. 1 uses a 1-chord (G altered) solo vamp over a rock
beat in 3/4, and a repeated theme that uses stacked fourths.
The second track, Quartet No. 2 (Part I) is a ballad
, dedicated to jazz pioneer Duke Ellington
, incorporating many of the Western classical harmonies and tensions that Ellington used in much of his playing. Quartet No. 2 (Part II) is dedicated to jazz saxophone legend John Coltrane
.
)
The CD reissue contains several tracks that were recorded during the same sessions as the original album but not released at the time. These are:
Corea plays drums on "Confirmation" instead of Steve Gadd
.
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
, in collaboration with saxophone giant Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker
Michael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
, bassist Eddie Gomez
Eddie Gomez
Edgar "Eddie" Gómez is a Puerto Rican jazz double bassist born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, perhaps most notable for his work done with the Bill Evans trio from 1966 to 1977.-Biography:...
, and drummer Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd is an American session and studio drummer, notable for his work with popular musicians from a wide range of genres.-Biography:...
. All compositions are by Corea who wanted to create an album of quartets like the many string quartets of the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
, Classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, Romantic
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
, and Impressionist
Impressionist music
Impressionism in music was a tendency in European classical music, mainly in France, which appeared in the late nineteenth century and continued into the middle of the twentieth century. Similarly to its precursor in the visual arts, musical impressionism focuses on a suggestion and an atmosphere...
periods; however, he would use jazz instrumentation.
Quartet No. 1 uses a 1-chord (G altered) solo vamp over a rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
beat in 3/4, and a repeated theme that uses stacked fourths.
The second track, Quartet No. 2 (Part I) is a ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, dedicated to jazz pioneer Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, incorporating many of the Western classical harmonies and tensions that Ellington used in much of his playing. Quartet No. 2 (Part II) is dedicated to jazz saxophone legend John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
.
Track listing
(All compositions by Chick Corea except "Confirmation" by Charlie ParkerCharlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
)
- "Quartet No. 1" – (10:16)
- "Quartet No. 3" – (9:41)
- "Quartet No. 2" - Part I (Dedicated to Duke Ellington)" – (7:09)
- "Quartet No. 2" - Part II (Dedicated to John Coltrane)" – (12:01)
The CD reissue contains several tracks that were recorded during the same sessions as the original album but not released at the time. These are:
- "Folk Song" – (5:51)
- "Hairy Canary" – (3:43)
- "Slippery When Wet" – (6:02)
- "Confirmation" – (6:17)
Corea plays drums on "Confirmation" instead of Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd is an American session and studio drummer, notable for his work with popular musicians from a wide range of genres.-Biography:...
.
Personnel
- Chick CoreaChick CoreaArmando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
- PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Michael BreckerMichael BreckerMichael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
- Tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble... - Eddie GomezEddie GomezEdgar "Eddie" Gómez is a Puerto Rican jazz double bassist born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, perhaps most notable for his work done with the Bill Evans trio from 1966 to 1977.-Biography:...
- Double BassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - Steve GaddSteve GaddSteve Gadd is an American session and studio drummer, notable for his work with popular musicians from a wide range of genres.-Biography:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Stephen Marcussen - Remastering
- Sonny Mediana - Graphic Design
- Joel Strote - Associate Executive Producer
- Adam Zelinka - Post Producer
- Dan Serrano - Graphic Design
- Andy Baltimore - Creative Director
- Andy Ruggirello - Graphic Design
- Darryl Pitt - Photography
- Susan Garson - Project Coordinator
- Richard Veloso - Art Producer
- Duncan Aldrich - Assistant Engineer