Hamiet Bluiett
Encyclopedia
Hamiet Bluiett is an American
jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His primary instrument is the baritone saxophone
, and he is considered one of the finest living players of this instrument. A member of the World Saxophone Quartet
, he also plays (and records with) the bass saxophone
, E-flat alto clarinet
, E-flat contra-alto clarinet
, and wooden flute.
, Illinois
(also known as Lovejoy), a predominantly African American
village which had been founded as a free black refuge community in the 1830s, and which later became America's first majority-black town. As a child, he studied piano, trumpet, and clarinet, but was attracted most strongly to the baritone saxophone from the age of ten. He began his musical career by playing the clarinet for barrelhouse dances in Brooklyn, Illinois, before joining the Navy band in 1961. He attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale
.
In his mid-twenties, Bluiett heard Harry Carney
(the baritone player in the Duke Ellington
band) play in a live concert in Boston, which also made a strong impression on the young Bluiett, providing an example of a baritone saxophonist who played as soloist rather than accompanist.
Following his time in the Navy, he returned to the St. Louis area in the mid-1960s. In the late 1960s Bluiett co-founded the Black Artists' Group (BAG) of St. Louis
, Missouri
, a collective dedicated to fostering creative work in theater, visual arts, dance, poetry, film, and music. He led the BAG big band during 1968 and 1969.
Bluiett moved to New York City
in the fall of 1969, where he joined the Charles Mingus
Quintet and the Sam Rivers
large ensemble. In 1976 he co-founded the World Saxophone Quartet
(along with two other Black Artists' Group members, Julius Hemphill
and Oliver Lake
), which soon became jazz music's most renowned saxophone quartet. He has remained a champion of the somewhat unwieldy baritone saxophone, organizing large groups of baritone saxophones. Since the 1990s he has led a virtuosic quartet, the Bluiett Baritone Nation, made up entirely of baritone saxophones, with drum set accompaniment.
In the 1980s, he also founded The Clarinet Family, a group of eight clarinetists playing clarinets of various sizes ranging from E-flat soprano to contrabass
.
Bluiett has also worked with Sam Rivers
, Babatunde Olatunji
, Abdullah Ibrahim
, Stevie Wonder
, and Marvin Gaye
.
He returned to his hometown of Brooklyn, Illinois in 2002. He currently does gigs, including the notable New Haven Jazz Festival on August 22, 2009. He performed with students from Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, CT. The group were known as Hamiet Bluiett and the Improvisational Youth Orchestra.
With the World Saxophone Quartet
With Craig Harris
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His primary instrument is the baritone saxophone
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
, and he is considered one of the finest living players of this instrument. A member of the World Saxophone Quartet
World Saxophone Quartet
The World Saxophone Quartet is a jazz ensemble founded in 1977, implementing elements of free funk and African jazz into their musical routines.-History:...
, he also plays (and records with) the bass saxophone
Bass saxophone
The bass saxophone is the second largest member of the saxophone family. Its design is similar to that of the baritone saxophone, with a loop of tubing near the mouthpiece. It was the first type of saxophone presented to the public, when Adolphe Sax exhibited a bass saxophone in C at an exhibition...
, E-flat alto clarinet
Alto clarinet
The alto clarinet is a wind instrument of the clarinet family. It is a transposing instrument pitched in the key of E, though instruments in F have been made. It is sometimes known as a tenor clarinet; this name especially is applied to the instrument in F...
, E-flat contra-alto clarinet
Contra-alto clarinet
The contra-alto clarinet is a large, low-sounding musical instrument of the clarinet family. The modern contra-alto clarinet is pitched in the key of EE and is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the EE contrabass clarinet...
, and wooden flute.
Biography
Bluiett was born just north of East St. Louis in BrooklynBrooklyn, Illinois
Brooklyn , is a village in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. Located just 2 miles north of East St. Louis, Illinois and 3 miles northeast of Downtown St. Louis, Missouri, it is the oldest town incorporated by African Americans in the United States...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
(also known as Lovejoy), a predominantly African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
village which had been founded as a free black refuge community in the 1830s, and which later became America's first majority-black town. As a child, he studied piano, trumpet, and clarinet, but was attracted most strongly to the baritone saxophone from the age of ten. He began his musical career by playing the clarinet for barrelhouse dances in Brooklyn, Illinois, before joining the Navy band in 1961. He attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...
.
In his mid-twenties, Bluiett heard Harry Carney
Harry Carney
Harry Howell Carney was an American swing baritone saxophonist, clarinetist, and bass clarinetist mainly known for his 45-year tenure in Duke Ellington's Orchestra. Carney started off as an alto player with Ellington, but soon switched to the baritone. His strong, steady saxophone often served as...
(the baritone player in the Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
band) play in a live concert in Boston, which also made a strong impression on the young Bluiett, providing an example of a baritone saxophonist who played as soloist rather than accompanist.
Following his time in the Navy, he returned to the St. Louis area in the mid-1960s. In the late 1960s Bluiett co-founded the Black Artists' Group (BAG) of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, a collective dedicated to fostering creative work in theater, visual arts, dance, poetry, film, and music. He led the BAG big band during 1968 and 1969.
Bluiett moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the fall of 1969, where he joined the Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
Quintet and the Sam Rivers
Sam Rivers
Samuel Carthorne Rivers , is an American jazz musician and composer. He performs on soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, harmonica and piano....
large ensemble. In 1976 he co-founded the World Saxophone Quartet
World Saxophone Quartet
The World Saxophone Quartet is a jazz ensemble founded in 1977, implementing elements of free funk and African jazz into their musical routines.-History:...
(along with two other Black Artists' Group members, Julius Hemphill
Julius Hemphill
Julius Arthur Hemphill was a jazz composer and saxophone player. He performed mainly on alto saxophone; less often soprano and tenor saxophones and flute.-Biography:...
and Oliver Lake
Oliver Lake
Oliver Lake is an American jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer and poet. He is known mainly on alto saxophone but also performs on soprano saxophone and flute....
), which soon became jazz music's most renowned saxophone quartet. He has remained a champion of the somewhat unwieldy baritone saxophone, organizing large groups of baritone saxophones. Since the 1990s he has led a virtuosic quartet, the Bluiett Baritone Nation, made up entirely of baritone saxophones, with drum set accompaniment.
In the 1980s, he also founded The Clarinet Family, a group of eight clarinetists playing clarinets of various sizes ranging from E-flat soprano to contrabass
Contrabass clarinet
The contrabass clarinet is the largest member of the clarinet family that has ever been in regular production or significant use. Modern contrabass clarinets are pitched in BB, sounding two octaves lower than the common B soprano clarinet and one octave lower than the B bass clarinet...
.
Bluiett has also worked with Sam Rivers
Sam Rivers
Samuel Carthorne Rivers , is an American jazz musician and composer. He performs on soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, harmonica and piano....
, Babatunde Olatunji
Babatunde Olatunji
Babatunde Olatunji was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist and recording artist.- Biography :Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, a small town near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Nigeria. A member of the Yoruba people, Olatunji was introduced to traditional African music at...
, Abdullah Ibrahim
Abdullah Ibrahim
Abdullah Ibrahim , born Adolph Johannes Brand, 9 October 1934 in Cape Town, South Africa, and formerly known as Dollar Brand, is a South African pianist and composer...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, and Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
.
He returned to his hometown of Brooklyn, Illinois in 2002. He currently does gigs, including the notable New Haven Jazz Festival on August 22, 2009. He performed with students from Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, CT. The group were known as Hamiet Bluiett and the Improvisational Youth Orchestra.
As leader
- 1976: Endangered Species. India NavigationIndia NavigationIndia Navigation was an American independent record label that was active from the 1970s to the early 1990s. Founded by corporate lawyer Bob Cummins, the label specialized in jazz music, particularly avant-garde jazz.-Discography:...
. - 1977: Bars. Musica RecordsMusica Records-Discography:...
. - 1977: ResolutionResolution (Hamiet Bluiett album)Resolution is an album by American jazz saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett recorded in 1977 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:# "Happy Spirit" - 14:35# "Flux/A Bad M.F." - 6:32...
Black SaintBlack Saint/Soul NoteBlack Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian jazz independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz.-History:... - 1978: Birthright India Navigation
- 1979: Impossible to Keep. India Navigation.
- 1981: Dangerously Suite Soul NoteBlack Saint/Soul NoteBlack Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian jazz independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz.-History:...
- 1984: Live in Berlin with the Clarinet Family
- 1984: Ebu Soul Note
- 1987: The Clarinet Family. Black SaintBlack Saint/Soul NoteBlack Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian jazz independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz.-History:...
. - 1991: If You Have To Ask...You Don't Need To Know. Tutu.
- 1993: Nali Kola (Soul Note)
- 1993: Sankofa / Rear Garde (Soul Note)
- 1996: Bluiett's Barbecue Band. Mapleshade RecordsMapleshade RecordsMapleshade Records is an American jazz based record label.Mapleshade was founded in 1989 by Pierre Sprey, who had been recording since 1986. Prior to his career in jazz recording, Sprey had worked as an aeronautical engineer in The Pentagon, designing A-10 and F-16 fighter jets. The label is based...
. - 1997: Ballads and Blues: Live at the Village Vanguard Soul Note Records
- 1998: Bluiett Baritone Saxophone Group. Live at the Knitting Factory. Knitting Factory.
- 1998: Bluiett Baritone Nation. Libation for the Baritone Saxophone Nation. Justin Time.
- 2000: With Eyes Wide Open. Justin Time.
- 2001: The Calling with D.D. Jackson and Kahil El'ZabarKahil El'ZabarKahil EL'Zabar is a jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer. He regularly records for Delmark Records. He joined the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians in the early 1970s, and became its chairman in 1975...
- 2002: Blueblack: group features four baritone saxes, with James CarterJames Carter (musician)James Carter is an American jazz musician.Carter was born in Detroit, Michigan and learned to play there before moving to New York City. He has been prominent as a performer and recording artist on the jazz scene since the mid-1990s, playing saxophones, flute, and bass clarinet...
, Patience Higgins and Alex Harding
With the World Saxophone Quartet
World Saxophone Quartet
The World Saxophone Quartet is a jazz ensemble founded in 1977, implementing elements of free funk and African jazz into their musical routines.-History:...
| Title | Year | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point of No Return Point of No Return (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Dar el Sudan" - 2:48# "Bajou Scetches" - 10:13# "Point of No Return" - 10:32# "Sacred Sheetless" - 24:26# "Hymn for the Old Year" - 3:38-Personnel:*Hamiet Bluiett — baritone saxophone... |
1977 | Moers Music | ||
| Steppin' with the World Saxophone Quartet Steppin' with the World Saxophone Quartet -Track listing:# "Steppin'" - 9:06# "Ra-Ta-Ta" - 5:26# "Dream Scheme" - 7:18# "P.O. in Cairo" - 10:47# "Hearts" - 3:01# "R&B" - 8:39-Personnel:*Hamiet Bluiett — baritone saxophone... |
1979 | Black Saint Black Saint/Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian jazz independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz.-History:... |
||
| W.S.Q. W.S.Q. -Track listing:# "Sundance" - 2:38# "Plainsong" - 4:19# "Connections" - 8:06# "W.S.Q." - 5:15# "Pillars Latino" - 5:19# "Suite Music: The Key/Ballad for Eddie Jefferson/Pam-Maw/Hattie Wall" - 5:24... |
1981 | Black Saint | ||
| Revue Revue (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Revue" - 8:00# "Affairs of the Heart" - 5:40# "Slide" - 3:41# "Little Samba" - 5:26# "I Heard That" - 3:23# "Hymn for the Old Year" - 4:24# "Ming" - 4:21... |
1982 | Black Saint | ||
| Live in Zurich Live in Zurich -Track listing:# "Hattie Wall" - 1:40# "Funny Paper" - 4:45# "Touchic" - 5:21# "My First Winter" - 6:54# "Bordertown" - 7:30# "Steppin'" - 7:15# "Stick" - 5:18... |
1984 | Black Saint | ||
| Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music -Track listing:# "One/Waltz/Time" - 3:51# "Great Peace" - 14:58# "Kinda' Up" - 3:50# "Paper Works" - 8:07# "Open Air " - 10:14# "Georgia Blue" - 6:35-Personnel:... |
1986 | Black Saint | ||
| Plays Duke Ellington Plays Duke Ellington Plays Duke Ellington was the seventh album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet, released in 1986.The album marked a departure for the quartet, in that their first six albums had been of music written by the four musicians themselves; this was their first venture into jazz standards.-Track... |
1986 | Elektra Elektra Records Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... / Nonesuch Nonesuch Records Nonesuch Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:Nonesuch was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman to produce "fine records at the same price as a trade paperback", which would be half the price of a normal LP... |
||
| Dances and Ballads Dances and Ballads -Track listing:# "Sweet D" - 6:35# "For Lester" - 4:20# "Belly Up" - 6:44# "Cool Red" - 5:12# "Hattie Wall" - 4:04# "Adjacent" - 4:49# "West African Snap" - 3:41... |
1987 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Rhythm and Blues Rhythm and Blues (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "For the Love of Money" - 4:13# "Let's Get It On" - 5:33# "I Heard That" - 4:48# "Loopology" - 3:09# " The Dock of the Bay" - 4:30... |
1989 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Metamorphosis Metamorphosis (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Holy Men" - 2:48# "Lullaby" - 4:51# "Metamorphosis" - 3:28# "Su Mama Ah Zumu" - 6:25# "Africa" - 8:54# "Ballad For The Blackman" - 7:52# "Masai Warrior's Dance" - 5:14... |
1991 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Moving Right Along Moving Right Along -Track listing:# "Antithesis" - 7:11# "Baba 2" - 4:34# "N.T." - 4:10# "Astral Travels" - 1:15# "Land of Mystery" - 4:24# "Movin' On" - 6:15# "Amazing Grace, Pt... |
1993 | Black Saint | ||
| Breath of Life Breath of Life (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Jest a Little" - 9:14# "Cairo Blues" - 1:11# "Suffering with the Blues" - 5:39# "You Don't Know Me" - 6:35# "Picasso" - 5:52... |
1994 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Four Now Four Now Four Now is the thirteenth album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet and their first on 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.-Track... |
1996 | Justin Time | ||
| Takin' It 2 the Next Level Takin' It 2 the Next Level -Track listing:# "Wiring" - 6:28# "Soft Landing" - 1:11# "Rio" - 7:30# "The Peace Before" - 1:23# "Blues for a Warrior Spirit" - 13:08# "The Desegregation of Our Children" - 12:35... |
1996 | Justin Time | ||
| Selim Sivad: a Tribute to Miles Davis Selim Sivad: a Tribute to Miles Davis -Track listing:# "Seven Steps To Heaven" - 6:12# "Selim" - 7:30# "Freddie Freeloader" - 6:48# "The Road To Nefertiti" - 9:59# "Tutu" - 6:52# "Blue in Green" - 5:31# "All Blues" - 9:50-Personnel:... |
1998 | Justin Time | ||
| Requiem for Julius Requiem for Julius -Track listing:# "Ebony" - 7:45# "Free and Independent Thought" - 3:01# "All Praise" - 5:57# "Requiem for Julius" - 6:46# "Le Sport Suite" - 7:50# "Hurricane Floyd" - 10:46# "Potato Vamp" - 3:42... |
2000 | Justin Time | ||
| 25th Anniversary: The New Chapter 25th Anniversary: The New Chapter -Track listing:-Personnel:*Hamiet Bluiett — baritone saxophone*John Purcell — alto saxophone*Oliver Lake — alto saxophone*David Murray — tenor saxophone... |
2001 | Justin Time | ||
| Steppenwolf Steppenwolf (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Intro" - 1:05# "The Crossing" - 12:39# "Intro" - 2:07# "Li'l Poki" - 15:23# "Intro" - 0:27# "Sunrise " - 9:14# "Giant Steps" - 3:15# "Intro" - 0:13# "Color for Duke" - 8:34... |
2002 | Justin Time | ||
| Experience Experience (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Freedom" - 7:14# "If 6 Was 9" - 5:20# "Hey Joe" - 7:10# "Machine Gun" - 8:02# "Little Wing" - 7:34# "Foxy Lady" - 5:29# "Hear My Train a Comin'" - 8:34# "The Wind Cries Mary"- 7:38-Personnel:... |
2004 | Justin Time | ||
| Political Blues Political Blues -Track listing:# "Political Blues" - 9:04# "Hal's Blues" - 2:54# "Mannish Boy" - 7:26# "Let's Have Some Fun" - 7:23# "Amazin' Disgrace" - 5:55# "Bluocracy, Part 1" - 5:03... |
2006 | Justin Time | ||
| Yes We Can | 2010 | Jazzwerkstatt |
As sideman
With The 360 Degree Music ExperienceThe 360 Degree Music Experience
The 360 Degree Music Experience was an Ameican band that performed both traditional and experimental jazz. Active during the 1970s and 1980s, the group was initially co-led by drummer Beaver Harris and the pianist Dave Burrell. After Burrell left the group, pianist Don Pullen replaced him...
- In: SanityIn: SanityIn: Sanity is an album by American jazz group The 360 Degree Music Experience led by drummer Beaver Harris and pianist Dave Burrell recorded in 1976 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:...
(Black Saint, 1976)
With Craig Harris
Craig S. Harris (trombonist)
Craig S. Harris is a Jazz trombonist and composer who has been a major figure in the jazz avant-garde movement since his stint with Sun Ra in 1976. Subsequently, Harris has worked with such notable jazz artists as Abdullah Ibrahim, David Murray, Lester Bowie, Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers, Muhal...
- F-Stops (Soul Note, 1993)
External links
- "A Fireside Chat With Hamiet Bluiett" by Fred Jung, from Jazz Weekly site
- Audio Recordings of WCUW Jazz Festivals - Jazz History Database