NEW RELEASES : In Brief

**** David Murray, “Special Quartet,” DIW. With two members of John Coltrane’s best-known quartet on board--pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones--Murray invites comparisons to the tenor giant. But there’s more contrast than similarity between the two saxophonists, with Murray using Coltrane’s “Cousin Mary” to paint the differences. He shows a more humorous side than his all-business predecessor, while employing a wider range of tonal effects. Tyner comes up with some of his best playing in a decade while Jones works up his usual point-counterpoint rhythms. Bassist Fred Hopkins rounds out the ambitious foursome.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent).