David Murray Quartet's 1993 Japan only CD release Ballads For Bass Clarinet (DIW/Disk Union) is issued for the first time on vinyl by Ko Ko Music. Comprising a couple of waltzes, a blues, a Monk-ish suite-like piece, a free-ish drums and clarinet interlude, and finally an elegy to civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer - David Murray leads on bass clarinet, managing to go both deep and soaringly high, it sometimes sounds like two different instruments are being played. But this is not a solo effort from David Murray: there is also plenty to listen from the other members of the group. The quartet is tight and the recording is superb, with a warm and intimate sound. Highly recommended.

David Murray: bass clarinet
John Hicks: piano
Ray Drummond: bass
Idris Muhammad: drums