Live in Zurich (World Saxophone Quartet album)

Live in Zurich
Live album by World Saxophone Quartet
Released	1984
Recorded	November 6, 1981
Genre	Jazz
Length	40:13
Label	Black Saint
World Saxophone Quartet chronology
Revue (1982) Live in Zurich (1984) Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music (1986)

Live in Zurich is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet recorded in 1981 and released on the Italian Black Saint label.

The album features live performances by alto saxophonists Julius Hemphill and Oliver Lake, tenor saxophonist David Murray and baritone saxophonist Julius Hemphill, recorded in Zurich on November 6, 1981. The album features Julius Hemphill's compositions exclusively, with the exception of the opening and closing versions of Hamiett Bluiett's 'WSQ theme', "Hattie Wall".

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[3]
Tom Hull	B+ ( ) [4]

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4+1⁄2 stars, stating, "By 1981, after four years of existence, it was obvious that the most talented writer in the World Saxophone Quartet was altoist Julius Hemphill. This Black Saint release finds Hemphill contributing six of the eight pieces, including the hard-swinging "Bordertown," the colorful "Steppin" and a vivid feature for David Murray's tenor on "My First Winter." A particularly strong release by a classic and innovative group." ^[1]

The Washington Post's Mike Joyce noted that "the sweeping elegance and sumptuous colors reminiscent of Duke Ellington's work are occasionally reflected in Hemphill's compositions," and stated that the album "offers further evidence of just how important and influential this group has become. The recording displays the band's exceptional rhythmic autonomy, the feverish mind of composer Julius Hemphill and the robust yet precise ensemble work of all the players." ^[5]

Track listing

1. "Hattie Wall" (Bluiett) – 1:40
2. "Funny Paper" (Hemphill) – 4:45
3. "Touchic" (Hemphill) – 5:21
4. "My First Winter" (Hemphill) – 6:54
5. "Bordertown" (Hemphill) – 7:30
6. "Steppin'" (Hemphill) – 7:15
7. "Stick" (Hemphill) – 5:18
8. "Hattie Wall" (Bluiett) – 1:30

Personnel

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

References

1. Yanow, S. Allmusic Review accessed July 19, 2011
2. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 210. ISBN   0-394-72643-X.
3. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1529. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
4. Hull, Tom (June 22, 2020). "Music Week". Tom Hull – On the Web. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
5. Joyce, Mike (June 14, 1984). "Adventures in Jazz". Washington Post. Retrieved April 6, 2022.