The combination of drummer Max Roach's regular group (which includes trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater, tenor saxophonist Odean Pope and electric bassist Tyrone Brown) with the Uptown String Quartet to form his Double Quartet works extremely well. Because the strings get to improvise and are not restricted to the background, the interplay between the two groups is a special highlight of this particularly strong outing. In addition to works by Pope and Brown (the latter contributed "Tribute to Duke and Mingus"), The Double Quartet interprets Steve Turre's "Double Delight," Randy Weston's "Hi Fly" and Roland Kirk's happy "Bright Moments." A frequently exquisite yet adventurous album, highly recommended. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
1. Bright Moments (Rahsaan Roland Kirk)
2. Elixir Suite (Odean Pope)
3. Hi-Fly (Randy Weston)
4. Trubute to Duke and Mingus (Tyrone Brown)
5. Double Delight (Steve Turre)
TYRONE BROWN bass
MAX ROACH drums, percussion
ODEAN POPE tenor saxophone
CECIL BRIDGEWATER trumpet
ZELA TERRY cello
MAXINE ROACH viola
DIANE MONROE violin
LESA TERRY violin
Recorded October 1-2, 1986 at Sound Ideas Studio, N.Y.C
Soul Note - SN 1159 (Italy)