Dances and Ballads is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet, released in 1988 and featuring performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray.

Dances and Ballads
Studio album by World Saxophone Quartet
Released	1988
Recorded	April 1987
Genre	Jazz
Length	47:59
Label	Elektra/Nonesuch
Producer	Robert Hurwitz
World Saxophone Quartet chronology
World Saxophone Quartet: Plays Duke Ellington (1986) Dances and Ballads (1988) Rhythm and Blues (1990)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[2]

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars, stating, "This is an underrated release, recorded between their better-known Plays Duke Ellington and Rhythm and Blues CDs."[1]

The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings commented: "There's a broader big-band sound to Dances and Ballads, achieved without the addition of outsiders... there's a fine version of David Murray's Pres tribute, 'For Lester'... and Oliver Lake's 'West African Snap', 'Belly Up', and 'Adjacent' are among the best of his recorded compositions."[2]

Track listing

1. "Sweet D" (Hemphill) - 6:35
2. "For Lester" (Murray) - 4:20
3. "Belly Up" (Lake) - 6:44
4. "Cool Red" (Hemphill) - 5:12
5. "Hattie Wall" (Bluiett) - 4:04
6. "Adjacent" (Lake) - 4:49
7. "West African Snap" (Lake) - 3:41
8. "Full, Deep and Mellow" (Bluiett) - 3:16
9. "Dance Until Dawn (For Little Anthony)" (Murray) - 7:08
10. "Fast Life" (Murray) - 3:01

Personnel

• Hamiet Bluiett — baritone saxophone
• Julius Hemphill — alto saxophone
• Oliver Lake — alto saxophone
• David Murray — tenor saxophone

References