Three Quartets | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 1981 | |||
Recorded | January/February 1981 | |||
Studio | Mad Hatter Studios Los Angeles, California | |||
Genre | Post-bop, jazz | |||
Length | 39:08 (original album) / 61:03 (CD reissue) | |||
Label | Stretch Records | |||
Producer | Chick Corea | |||
Chick Corea chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Three Quartets is a studio album released in 1981 by jazz pianist Chick Corea, in collaboration with tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, bassist Eddie Gómez 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, but with 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.
All compositions by Chick Corea except as noted.
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.
Musicians
Production
Year | Chart | Position |
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1981 | Billboard 200 | 179 [3] |
1981 | Billboard Jazz Albums | 17 [3] |
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Steps Ahead is the second album by the American jazz group Steps Ahead, released on Elektra/Musician in 1983. The group had previously released three albums under the name Steps on Nippon Columbia, with Don Grolnick on piano and Steve Gadd on drums on "Smokin' in the Pit" and "Step by Step".
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Times Like These is an album by vibraphonist Gary Burton released on the GRP label in 1988. The all-star quartet includes guitarist John Scofield, bassist Marc Johnson and former Weather Report drummer Peter Erskine. Tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker sits in on two tracks.
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Chinese Butterfly is a double album by keyboardist Chick Corea and drummer Steve Gadd. The band is rounded out by saxophonist/flautist Steve Wilson, guitarist Lionel Loueke and bassist Carlitos del Puerto. The album includes five new compositions and features Earth, Wind & Fire singer Philip Bailey on a new recording of "Return to Forever" from 1972.