World Saxophone Quartet

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World Saxophone Quartet
World Saxophone Quartet.jpg
In 2007, from left to right: David Murray, Tony Kofi, Oliver Lake and Hamiet Bluiett. Photo by Andy Newcombe
Background information
Years active1977–2016
Past members

The World Saxophone Quartet was an American jazz ensemble founded in 1977, incorporating elements of free jazz, R&B, funk and South African jazz into their music. [1]

Contents

The original members were Julius Hemphill (alto and soprano saxophone, flute), Oliver Lake (alto and soprano saxophone), Hamiet Bluiett (baritone saxophone, alto clarinet), and David Murray (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet). [2] The first three had worked together as members of the Black Artists' Group in St. Louis, Missouri, and had appeared together on Anthony Braxton's album New York, Fall 1974 . [3] In 1991, Hemphill left the group due to illness, and was replaced by Arthur Blythe, [2] although several saxophonists have filled his chair in the years since. Hemphill died on April 2, 1995. [4] Beginning in the early 1980s, the quartet used Bluiett's composition "Hattie Wall" (released on W.S.Q. , Live in Zurich , Dances and Ballads , Steppenwolf and Yes We Can ) as a signature theme for the group. [5] The group principally recorded and performed as a saxophone quartet, usually with a line-up of two altos, tenor, and baritone (reflecting the composition of a classical string quartet), but were also joined later in their career by drummers, bassists, and other musicians. [2] Occasionally other saxophonists would sit in or substitute for a tour. These guests have included Sam Rivers, Tony Kofi, Steve Potts, Branford Marsalis, James Spaulding and Jorge Sylvester. Hamiet Bluiett died on October 4, 2018, after an extended illness. [6] The ensemble had split up in 2016. [1]

Discography

Albums

TitleYearLabel
Point of No Return 1977Moers Music
Steppin' with the World Saxophone Quartet 1979 Black Saint
W.S.Q. 1981Black Saint
Revue 1982Black Saint
Live in Zurich 1984Black Saint
Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music 1986Black Saint
Plays Duke Ellington 1986 Elektra / Nonesuch
Dances and Ballads 1987Elektra / Nonesuch
Rhythm and Blues 1989Elektra / Nonesuch
Metamorphosis 1991Elektra / Nonesuch
Moving Right Along 1993Black Saint
Breath of Life 1994Elektra / Nonesuch
Four Now 1996 Justin Time
Takin' It 2 the Next Level 1996Justin Time
Selim Sivad: A Tribute to Miles Davis 1998Justin Time
M'Bizo 1999Justin Time
Requiem for Julius 2000Justin Time
25th Anniversary: The New Chapter 2001Justin Time
Steppenwolf 2002Justin Time
Experience 2004Justin Time
Political Blues 2006Justin Time
Yes We Can [7] 2010Jazzwerkstatt

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<i>Steppin with the World Saxophone Quartet</i> 1979 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Steppin' with the World Saxophone Quartet is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet, released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1979. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray.

<i>Revue</i> (album) 1982 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Revue is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released on the Italian Black Saint label. The album features performances and compositions by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray.

<i>W.S.Q.</i> (album) 1980 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

W.S.Q. is a 1980 album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released on the Italian Black Saint label. The album features performances and compositions by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray.

<i>Live in Zurich</i> (World Saxophone Quartet album) 1984 live album by World Saxophone Quartet

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.

<i>Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music</i> 1986 live album by World Saxophone Quartet

Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music is a live album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released on the Italian Black Saint label.

<i>Dances and Ballads</i> 1988 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Dances and Ballads is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet, released in 1988 and featuring performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray.

<i>Rhythm and Blues</i> (World Saxophone Quartet album) 1989 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Rhythm and Blues is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released on the Elektra label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray and was first released in 1989.

<i>Requiem for Julius</i> 2000 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Requiem for Julius is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released by the Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, John Purcell, Oliver Lake and David Murray and is dedicated to the band's founding member Julius Hemphill.

<i>Metamorphosis</i> (World Saxophone Quartet album) 1990 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Metamorphosis is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released in 1990 on the Elektra/Nonesuch label and features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Arthur Blythe, Oliver Lake and David Murray with Chief Bey, Melvin Gibbs and Mor Thiam. It was the first album recorded by the group after the departure of foundation member Julius Hemphill and their first to feature additional musicians.

<i>Four Now</i> 1996 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Four Now is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet, released by the Canadian Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, John Purcell, Oliver Lake and David Murray, with guests Chief Bey, Mor Thiam, and Mar Gueye on African drums.

<i>Takin It 2 the Next Level</i> 1996 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Takin' It 2 the Next Level is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released by the Canadian Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, John Purcell, Oliver Lake and David Murray, with a rhythm section of Don Blackman, Calvin X Jones and Ronnie Burrage.

<i>Political Blues</i> 2006 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Political Blues is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released by the Canadian Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Jaleel Shaw, Oliver Lake and David Murray, with guests Craig Harris on trombone, Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, James "Blood" Ulmer on guitar, Jamaaladeen Tacuma on bass guitar, and Lee Pearson on drums.

<i>Point of No Return</i> (World Saxophone Quartet album) 1977 live album by World Saxophone Quartet

Point of No Return is the debut album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released on the Moers Music label in 1977.

<i>New York, Fall 1974</i> 1975 studio album by Anthony Braxton

New York, Fall 1974 is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Anthony Braxton, recorded in 1974 and released on the Arista label. The album was subsequently included on The Complete Arista Recordings of Anthony Braxton released by Mosaic Records in 2008.

<i>Yes We Can</i> (album) 2010 live album by World Saxophone Quartet

Yes We Can is a live album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet. It features Hamiet Bluiett on baritone saxophone, James Carter on soprano and tenor saxophones, Kidd Jordan on alto saxophone, and David Murray on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet. The album was recorded on March 28, 2009, at Kino Babylon in Berlin, and was released in 2010 by Jazzwerkstatt.

References

  1. 1 2 "World Saxophone Quartet | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 440. ISBN   0-85112-580-8.
  3. ↑ Looker, Benjamin (2004). Point from which Creation Begins: The Black Artists' Group of St. Louis. Missouri Historical Society Press. pp. 232–233.
  4. ↑ Peter Watrous (April 4, 1995). "Julius Hemphill, Saxophonist And Composer, Is Dead at 57". The New York Times .
  5. ↑ Milkowski, Bill (April 1, 2011). "World Saxophone Quartet: Yes We Can". Jazz Times. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Hamiet Bluiett Dies at 78". Downbeat.com. October 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ Yes We Can at AllMusic
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