Description
Hampton Hawes With Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne & Red Mitchell – Four! – 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Four! is a classic 1958 album by jazz pianist Hampton Hawes, recorded on January 27, 1958 and released by Contemporary Records. This straight-ahead quartet session—featuring Barney Kessel on guitar, Red Mitchell on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums—is widely considered one of Hawes’ finest recordings. It captures the pianist at a creative peak, blending bebop sophistication, West Coast cool, and bluesy swing into a tightly executed and deeply expressive performance.
By the time of Four!, Hawes was already recognized as a key figure in the postwar Los Angeles jazz scene. Influenced by Bud Powell and Charlie Parker but with a voice all his own, Hawes had a knack for combining hard bop energy with a lyrical, blues-drenched touch, making him a standout among both West Coast and East Coast players. This album was part of a strong run of recordings Hawes made for Contemporary Records before his sudden imprisonment on drug charges later that year, which interrupted his career for several years.
The quartet lineup is nothing short of stellar:
Hampton Hawes – piano
Barney Kessel – guitar
Red Mitchell – bass
Shelly Manne – drums
This rhythm section brings both technical finesse and natural chemistry, giving Hawes the perfect backdrop to stretch out. Kessel’s crisp, melodic guitar lines and Manne’s light but propulsive drumming complement Hawes’ nimble phrasing, while Mitchell’s bass anchors the group with clarity and swing.
Musical Highlights:
“Yardbird Suite” – A nod to Charlie Parker, this interpretation is respectful but full of invention. Hawes’ soloing is fluid and harmonically sharp, showing both his bebop credentials and his personal voice.
“There Will Never Be Another You” – Taken at a medium-fast tempo, the quartet gives this standard a playful, swinging treatment. The conversational interplay between Hawes and Kessel is a standout.
“Bow Jest” (Red Mitchell) – A witty, rhythmically clever original by the bassist that gives everyone room to explore. It demonstrates the group’s balance between structured form and spontaneous expression.
“Sweet Sue” and “Up Blues” – Show Hawes’ deep love of the blues, which permeates much of his playing. His gospel-influenced voicings and rhythmic phrasing give even familiar forms a fresh feel.
“Like Someone in Love” – A tender, lyrical performance that reveals Hawes’ ballad sensitivity. His use of space, dynamics, and subtle reharmonization make it a quietly emotional highlight.
Significance:
Four! is often praised for its balance of technical brilliance and relaxed atmosphere. It’s an album where four master musicians come together in deep musical conversation, each bringing their own voice without overshadowing the others. The presence of guitar rather than horns gives the session a more intimate, chamber-jazz feel, allowing for harmonic richness and subtle interplay.
The recording also showcases the exceptional audio quality typical of engineer Roy DuNann’s work at Contemporary Records—crisp, warm, and immediate, with each instrument clearly defined in the mix.
Four! is a swinging, elegant, and beautifully executed quartet album that exemplifies Hampton Hawes’ strengths as a pianist: technical fluency, deep blues feeling, harmonic imagination, and rhythmic drive. It’s essential listening for fans of 1950s jazz, West Coast cool, or straight-ahead piano-led combos. More than just a great album, Four! is a snapshot of a gifted artist at his best, playing with like-minded musicians who elevate the session into one of the quiet masterpieces of modern jazz.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Yardbird Suite
There Will Never Be Another You
Bow Jest
Sweet Sue
Up Blues
Like Someone In Love
Love Is Around The Corner
