"Four Strings" is a Benny Golson composition written specifically for Paul Chambers's 1957 self-titled Blue Note quintet album, its title a direct reference to the bass. Chambers opens with four choruses of improvisation over a 12-bar blues in B-flat, his arco playing demonstrating the kind of melodic invention and technical command that revolutionized the role of the bass in jazz. The blues format proves ideal for showcasing each quintet member in succession: Clifford Jordan delivers five fiery tenor saxophone choruses, Donald Byrd contributes four solid trumpet choruses, Tommy Flanagan offers four refined piano choruses, and Elvin Jones closes with two explosive drum choruses. The extended solo format allows each musician to build comprehensive improvisational statements, the blues form providing a common language that unites their diverse styles. Golson's composition of this piece for Chambers reflects the respect that the bassist commanded among his peers, a musician whose contributions to rhythm sections from Miles Davis to John Coltrane fundamentally shaped the sound of modern jazz.
