"Four" is a 1954

jazz standard Jazz standards are musical compositions that are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive lis ...

. It was first recorded and arranged in 1954 by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis and released on his album ''

Miles Davis Quartet ''Miles Davis Quartet'' (PRLP 161) is a 10 inch LP album by Miles Davis, released in 1954 by Prestige Records. The first four tracks that comprise Side 1 were recorded at New York's WOR Studios, on May 19, 1953. The last three, heard on Side 2, w ...

''. It is a 32-bar ABAC form. The song composition officially credits jazz trumpeter Miles Davis as the writer. However, there is some controversy that it may have actually been composed by someone and purchased by Davis. The American jazz saxophonist Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson has claimed ownership for the song.

Personnel

* Miles Davis – trumpet * Horace Silver – piano * Percy Heath – double bass *

Art Blakey Arthur Blakey (October 11, 1919 – October 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He was also known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina after he converted to Islam for a short time in the late 1940s. Blakey made a name for himself in the 1 ...

– drums

Recordings

The following artists have covered this composition. * Miles Davis – ''

'' (1954) *

Stan Getz Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of ...

– ''West Coast Jazz'' (1955) * Miles Davis – '' Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet'' (1956) *

Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...

– ''

Jammin' in Hi Fi with Gene Ammons ''Jammin' in Hi Fi with Gene Ammons'' (also rereleased as ''The Twister'') is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1957 and released on the Prestige label.

'' (1957) * Anita O'Day – ''

Anita O'Day Sings the Winners ''Anita O'Day Sings the Winners'' is a 1958 album by Anita O'Day. The concept of this album was to pick the "winners" from the top Jazz and Orchestral Charts. Track listing #" Take the "A" Train" (Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington) - 2:48 #"Tende ...

'' (1958) * Phineas Newborn – '' The Great Jazz Piano of Phineas Newborn Jr.'' (1962) *

Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often served ...

- ''

Maynard '62 ''Maynard '62'' is an album released by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson featuring tracks recorded in late 1961 and originally released on the Roulette label.Minn, MMaynard Ferguson discography accessed May 31, 2016 Reception AllMusic aw ...

'' (1962) *

Sonny Rollins Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. In a seven-decade career, he has recorded over sixty albums as a ...

– ''Sonny Rollins & Co 1964'' (1964) *Miles Davis – '' Four & More'' (1966) *

Joe Henderson Joe Henderson (April 24, 1937 – June 30, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than four decades, Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent l ...

– '' Four'' (1968) * Red Garland - ''

Red Garland Revisited! ''Red Garland Revisited!'' is an album by pianist Red Garland featuring tracks recorded in 1957 which were first released on the Prestige label in 1969.

'' (1969) * Dexter Gordon - ''

Bouncin' with Dex ''Bouncin' with Dex'' is an album led by saxophonist Dexter Gordon recorded in 1975 and released on the Danish SteepleChase Records, SteepleChase label.

'' (1976) * Harry Sweets Edison – ''Just Friends: Live at Bubba's Jazz Restaurant'' (1981) *

Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...

– ''

Chet Baker in Tokyo ''Chet Baker in Tokyo'' is a live album by jazz trumpeter and Singing, singer Chet Baker, recorded at Showa Women's University's Hitomi Memorial Hall. Released only eleven months before his death, it has been hailed as, "A glorious moment in Chet ...

'' (1987) * Sam Jones – ''Right Down Front: The Riverside Collection'' (1988) * Mulgrew Miller – ''

From Day to Day ''From Day to Day'' is a 1990 studio album by American jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller recorded together with drummer Kenny Washington and bassist Robert Hurst. This is his seventh album as a leader. Reception Jack Fuller of ''Chicago Tribune'' no ...

'' (1990) * Madeline Eastman – ''Mad About Madeline!'' (1991) * Terry Edwards - ''Executes Miles Davis Numbers'' (1992) * Ron Affif – ''Vierd Blues'' (1993) * Guy Barker – '' The Talented Mr Ripley - OST'' (with Pete King, Iain Dixon, Robin Aspland, Arne Somogyi and Clark Tracey) (1999) * Anita O'Day – ''Complete Anita O'Day Clef/Verve Sessions'' (2000) *

Keith Jarrett Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945) is an American jazz and classical music pianist and composer. Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey and later moved on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s, he has also been a ...

– ''My Foolish Heart'' (2007) * Lambert, Hendricks & Ross – ''Voices in Modern'' (2011) Lambert, Hendricks & Ross use Davis's solo on their 1958 album "The Swingers" which caused some conflict between Hendricks and Davis.

References

1954 songs 1950s jazz standards Bebop jazz standards Compositions by Miles Davis Songs with lyrics by Jon Hendricks {{1950s-jazz-composition-stub