View source for Four Now

{{Infobox album
| name       = Four Now
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[World Saxophone Quartet]]
| cover      = Four Now.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 1996
| recorded   = October 3–4, 1995
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Jazz]]
| length     = 54:10
| label      = [[Justin Time Records|Justin Time]]
| producer   =
| prev_title = [[Breath of Life (WSQ album)|Breath of Life]]
| prev_year  = 1994
| next_title = [[Takin' It 2 the Next Level]]
| next_year  = 1996
}}
'''''Four Now''''' is an [[album]] by the [[jazz]] group the [[World Saxophone Quartet]], released by the Canadian [[Justin Time Records|Justin Time]] label. The album features performances by [[Hamiet Bluiett]], [[John Purcell (musician)|John Purcell]], [[Oliver Lake]] and [[David Murray (saxophonist)|David Murray]], with guests [[Chief Bey]], [[Mor Thiam]], and Mar Gueye on African drums.
==Reception==
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = [[Tom Hull (critic)|Tom Hull]]
|rev1Score = B+ ({{Rating-Christgau|hm2}})<ref>{{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|author-link=Tom Hull (critic)|date=June 22, 2020|url=http://www.tomhull.com/ocston/blog/archives/2859-Music-Week.html|title=Music Week|website=Tom Hull – On the Web|access-date=June 23, 2020}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings]]''
|rev2score  = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref name="Penguin">{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |authorlink1=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |authorlink2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=[[The Penguin Guide to Jazz|The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings]] |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=[[Penguin Books|Penguin]] |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=1530}}</ref>
}}
The authors of the ''[[Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings]]'' noted that, in relation to the earlier recording titled ''[[Metamorphosis (World Saxophone Quartet album)|Metamorphosis]]'', which features the same three African drummers, ''Four Now'' is "the better album because the elements seem to work together rather than in strict parallel... There are also fewer avant-garde gestures from the WSQ itself."<ref name="Penguin" />
A reviewer for [[All About Jazz]] wrote that, in contrast with ''Metamorphosis'', "the group explores more rhythmic freedom on ''Four Now'', juxtaposing the cross-continental interplay of drum improvisation and horn improvisation. The results of this American-African cultural fusion are dramatically successful."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/four-now-world-saxophone-quartet-justin-time-records-review-by-aaj-staff |title=World Saxophone Quartet With African Drums: Four Now |first=AAJ |last=Staff |date=July 1, 2000 |website=All About Jazz |access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref>
A ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' reviewer praised Purcell's contributions, commenting: "If the future of the World Saxophone Quartet was cast into doubt by the passing of Julius Hemphill, fans can now rejoice."<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 13, 1996 |title=Reviews and Previews |magazine=Billboard |pages=80}}</ref>
==Track listing==
# "Dou Dou N'Daiye Rose" (Gueye) - 8:42
# "Dakar Darkness" (Lake, Murray) - 8:28
# "Suga" (Thiam) - 6:50
# "Colors" (Purcell) - 6:57
# "For Now" (Bluiett) - 5:24
# "What a Dream" (Lake) - 7:21
# "Sangara" (Thiam) - 10:40
==Personnel==
*[[Hamiet Bluiett]] &mdash; [[baritone saxophone]], [[contra-alto clarinet]]
*[[John Purcell (musician)|John Purcell]] &mdash; [[saxello]], [[alto flute]], [[english horn]], alto and C flutes
*[[Oliver Lake]] &mdash; [[alto saxophone]], vocals
*[[David Murray (saxophonist)|David Murray]] &mdash; [[tenor saxophone]], [[bass clarinet]]
*[[Chief Bey]] &mdash; African Drums
*[[Mor Thiam]] &mdash; African Drums
*Mar Gueye &mdash; African drums
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{AllMusic|id=four-now-mw0000648130|title=''Four Now''}}
{{World Saxophone Quartet}}
{{David Murray}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1996 albums]]
[[Category:World Saxophone Quartet albums]]