Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 13, 2026

Four Altos

Four Altos is an album by saxophonists Phil Woods Gene Quill, Sahib Shihab and Hal Stein recorded in 1957 and released on the Prestige label.

Last revised
Jun 13, 2026
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Four Altos
Studio album by
Phil Woods, Gene Quill, Sahib Shihab and Hal Stein
Released1957
RecordedFebruary 9, 1957
StudioVan Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey
GenreJazz
Length38:16
LabelPrestige
PRLP 7116
ProducerBob Weinstock
Phil Woods chronology
The Young Bloods
(1956) 		Four Altos
(1957) 		Sugan
(1957)

Four Altos is an album by saxophonists Phil Woods Gene Quill, Sahib Shihab and Hal Stein recorded in 1957 and released on the Prestige label.1

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarStar2
The Penguin Guide to Jazz RecordingsStarStarHalf star3

In his review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow stated "generally hard-swinging and well-played, but the strong influence of Charlie Parker makes all of the altoists sound alike".2 John Fordham of The Guardian described Four Altos as a "vigorous jam-session album", adding: "Quill, predominately a big-band player, was a fine foil for the agile Woods, with a darker, but more considered, Cool School sound to mark him out."4

Track listing

All compositions by Mal Waldron except as indicated

  1. "Pedal Eyes" - 7:34
  2. "Kokochee" (Teddy Charles) - 6:25
  3. "No More Nights" (Charles) - 4:58
  4. "Kinda Kanonic" (Hal Stein) - 5:59
  5. "Don't Blame Me" (Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh) - 4:57
  6. "Staggers" - 8:23

Personnel

References

References

  1. Prestige Records discography accessed September 4, 2012
  2. Yanow, S. AllMusic Review accessed September 4, 2012
  3. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1527. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  4. Fordham, John (October 1, 2015). "Phil Woods". The Guardian. Retrieved February 10, 2016.