The Quintet (album)


The Quintet is an album by V.S.O.P. It was compiled from two concert performances: one at the Greek Theatre, University of California, Berkeley, on July 16, 1977; the other at the San Diego Civic Theatre on July 18, 1977. The musicians were Herbie Hancock on keyboards, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and flugelhorn, Tony Williams on drums, Ron Carter on bass, and Wayne Shorter on tenor and soprano saxophones. The recording was originally released in October 1977 as a 2-disc LP by Columbia Records.

Reception

An excerpt from a review in the January 1978 issue of Downbeat is quoted on the back of the album and describes the performance:
What the audience applauds on this album transcends mere form, technique and instrumentation. They were thrilled by the charisma generated by five masters who listened to one another's inner ears, spoke to each other at multiple levels, and, no matter how dense the musical content, conveyed their messages to the audience with amazing clarity.

Legacy

"Third Plane" and "Lawra" where released also on studio album Third Plane, which Hancock, Carter and Williams had recorded a few days before, on July 13, 1977. "Third Plane" became one of Carter's most renowned compositions.
"Byrdlike" was oryginally recorded by Hubbard for his 1962's Ready for Freddie. Shorter also played on this version.
"Dolores" was oryginally recorded by Miles Davis Quintet in 1967 and released on 1967's Miles Smiles.
"Jessica" was originally released on Hancock's Fat Albert Rotunda album, recorded in 1969.
"Little Waltz" is a song from Carter's Piccolo album, recorded on March 1977.

Track listing

Side 1
  1. "One of a Kind" – 9:27
  2. "Third Plane" – 7:19
Side 2
  1. "Jessica" – 7:02
  2. "Lawra" – 9:43
Side 3
  1. "Darts" – 8:54
  2. "Dolores" – 11:31
Side 4
  1. "Little Waltz" – 9:33
  2. "Byrdlike" – 8:05

    Personnel