Wes Montgomery's "Four on Six", why is it named that?

[The Frizzle Fry]

just curious why the song is called four on six, ive been looking at this for quite some time and cant figure it out

[JimK]

http://www.stevekhan.com/unit7a.htm

The above is a Link to Steve Khan's site...he mentions a tune by Sam Jones called "Unit 7" as a 'distant cousin to Wes' "Four On Six"...'.
I don't recall "Unit 7"...do you guys?

I'm tryin' to think of possibilties for "Four On Six"-
Four guys(a 4-tet) playing in 6? Nah.
Four choruses on a 6-string guitar? Maybe?

[Bruce Lindfield]

It's got a distinctive written bass line - that has four notes to the bar but isn't really a walking bass line - the first bar of the tune ('head') has six notes over the 4 of the bass riff...? Errr... don't know, really!!

[c-ba55]

There's another famous tune, I think written previous to 4on6, called six on four.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by JimK

I'm tryin' to think of possibilties for "Four On Six"-
Four guys(a 4-tet) playing in 6? Nah.
Four choruses on a 6-string guitar? Maybe?

C'mon guys, no hockey fans on this forum?
It's obviously about a two man down power play.

[JimK]

Ding-Ding-Ding! That's it!!
Damn, I'm an idiot!

...some hockey fan I am!


(Those are usually called "5 on 3" Power Plays).



...and what's the big deal with Chicago's "25 Or 6 To 4"? "Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is"? or what??

I always figured "Questions 67 & 68" were the two questions prior to asking for...oh, nevermind.

[peteroberts]

I don't recall "Unit 7"...do you guys?

yeah, it's on Smokin at the Half Note...it precedes Four on Six. I think it's a blues...