Quartet (Herbie Hancock album)

Without Wayne Shorter (who was working with Weather Report and his own solo projects) and Freddie Hubbard, Hancock along with Ron Carter and Tony Williams reunited, and toured with a young Wynton Marsalis. This album was recorded during the tour of Japan.[1]

Some of the songs were from the 1965–1968 Miles Davis quintet, while one was from Hancock's own repertoire. The first two tracks on the album "Well You Needn't" and "'Round Midnight" are developed from two jazz standards by Thelonious Monk. The last track, "I Fall In Love Too Easily", develops from a 1945 Styne and Cahn song.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[2]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz commented that Hancock's playing standard was not as good as earlier in his career, but concluded that, "Fortunately for the album, Marsalis is feeling his oats, dispatching his solos with testy arrogance, and of course the other two rhythm players are in superb shape."[2] The AllMusic reviewer highlighted Marsalis's contribution, writing that "This is an extremely symbolic album, for Herbie Hancock and the V.S.O.P. rhythm section essentially pass the torch of the '80s acoustic jazz revival to the younger generation, as personified by then 19-year-old Wynton Marsalis."[1]

1. "Well You Needn't" (Thelonious Monk) - 6:29
2. "'Round Midnight" (Bernie Hanighen, Cootie Williams, Monk) - 6:41
3. "Clear Ways" (Tony Williams) - 5:00
4. "A Quick Sketch" (Ron Carter) - 16:27
5. "The Eye of the Hurricane" (Herbie Hancock) - 8:05
6. "Parade" (Carter) - 7:58
7. "The Sorcerer" (Hancock) - 7:19
8. "Pee Wee" (T. Williams) - 4:34
9. "I Fall In Love Too Easily" (Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn) - 5:52

Musicians

• Herbie Hancock - piano
• Wynton Marsalis - trumpet
• Ron Carter - bass
• Tony Williams - drums

Production

• David Rubinson & Friends Inc., Herbie Hancock
• Tomoo Suzuki - Recording Engineer

• Herbie Hancock - Quartet at the Discogs website