{"title":"Hamiet Bluiett","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe finest baritone saxophonist of the 1970s and beyond, Hamiet Bluiett has demonstrated a huge, impressive sound, superb technique, and a mastery of his horn in every register. In his solos, he can provide an array of tonal colors and harmonic options. A first-rate free player who's as proficient on standards as in blues, Bluiett has played in many excellent groups, has led his own bands, and has been featured on numerous magnificent recordings. Bluiett took music lessons from his aunt, who was a choral director, and started on clarinet at age nine. In late adolescence, he attended Southern University, where he studied clarinet and flute.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing a stint in the navy, Bluiett moved to St. Louis in the mid- '60s. He played with Lester and Joseph Bowie, Charles \"Bobo\" Shaw, Julius Hemphill and Oliver Lake. He also founded the BAG (Black Artists Group), the St. Louis equivalent of Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). He moved to New York in 1969, and joined Sam Rivers' large ensemble and Olatunji. Bluiett worked with various bands before joining Charles Mingus' quintet in 1972, with whom he remained, off and on, until 1974.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile his tenure was relatively short, Bluiett helped Mingus crystalize some of the finest music of his last years. After Mingus, Bluiett performed and recorded with Abdullah Ibrahim, Hemphill and others. Bluiett, Hemphill, Lake and David Murray formed a quartet in 1976 for a New Orleans concert. They decided to remain intact as a working unit and named themselves the World Saxophone Quartet. They continued recording and performing into the '90s, with Arthur Blythe replacing Hemphill. The WSQ has been cited as one of the key groups of the '80s and '90s; Down Beat and the New York Times consider them among the most important acoustic jazz quartets performing today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1996 they recorded their acclaimed Justin Time debut, \"Four Now,\" which features African percussionists; it was also their first with John Purcell. Bluiett has also worked with other bands. He was founder of the Clarinet Family, which featured eight clarinetists, and recorded with the Black Saint label in the '80s.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"with-eyes-wide-open-2","title":"With Eyes Wide Open","description":"The esteemed baritone saxophonist and distinguished member of the World Saxophone Quartet previously known as Hamiet Bluiett has apparently dropped his first name, which is indicated on the title and credits of this 2000 solo release. Yet whatever the circumstances, Bluiett's quartet serves up a tasty brew consisting of soulful ballads, calypso rhythms, and hardcore swing on this affable effort featuring guitarist Ed Cherry, bassist Jaribu Shahid, and drummer Nasheet Waits. Essentially, Bluiett balances a steely edged attack with fluid swinging lines and an altogether impressive faculty for enhancing the proceedings with his seemingly impossible ability to hit those high notes, which is uncommon or perhaps unattainable for most baritone saxophonists.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe musicians afford themselves ample room to stretch whether pursuing tuneful melodies or engaging in heated, modern jazz-style interplay as Bluiett and Cherry often make for a formidable twosome while also displaying an intuitive approach via shrewd dialogue augmented by a keen sense of the dynamic. Overall, Bluiett and company raise the roof on occasion thanks in part to their employment of powerful unison choruses atop burgeoning rhythms as \"With Eyes Wide Open\" signifies a hearty group effort to coincide with a well-balanced track mix and passionate soloing.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e-Glenn Astarita, All Music","brand":"Hamiet Bluiett","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39514550436000,"sku":"0068944013852","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39518297915552,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/34a2feb7-2416-46f9-ab58-e02358ab4eb47695951623865195213-LARGE_b62de079-5e5c-45ea-a8f5-fbddb8719350.jpg?v=1616144881"},{"product_id":"live-at-carlos-1","title":"Live At Carlos 1","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlthough the all-stars featured on this live set (bairtonist Hamiet Bluiett, pianist Don Pullen, bassist Fred Hopkins, drummer Idris Muhammad and percussionist Chief Bey) were familiar with each other's playing, this particular quintet also existed for the one week that they played at the New York club Carlos I. Bluiett and the late Pullen had complementary styles, quite exploratory yet at times surprisingly accessible. Pullen had the ability to play dense, atonal phrases in a catchy, rhythmic fashion, and his approach is the most memorable aspect of the set. Muhammad and Bey complement each other quite well, and Hopkins was always a versatile and powerful musician, both as a soloist and as an accompanist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs for Bluiett, he has long been the master of high-note baritone playing; his soloing is almost traditional during parts of \"Oleo,\" and he contributed the first three originals, which are inside\/outside and very viable vehicles for advanced improvising. The five lengthy pieces (only \"Tunisia\" is under ten minutes) give listeners an opportunity to hear a unique and short-lived band.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hamiet Bluiett","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39514564722848,"sku":"0068944912957","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/1422343a-5c4a-4e97-9d30-cd9377594d154999377658863124913-LARGE_5bb9c29c-2c65-4a4d-ad26-64c84307de10.jpg?v=1616145044"},{"product_id":"live-at-carlos-i-another-night-1","title":"Live at Carlos I: Another Night","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe quintet on this CD (baritonist Hamiet Bluiett, pianist Don Pullen, bassist Fred Hopkins, drummer Idris Muhammad, and Chief Bay on African percussion) was only together for a week, but three CDs resulted from their engagement at the Carlos I club in New York; Mulgrew Miller is in Pullen's place on one of the two other discs. This is a particularly intriguing setting for the great baritonist Bluiett, for even though he is an avant-gardist, he is heard here playing such numbers as \"I'll Close My Eyes\" (which becomes so romantic at one point that it seems satirical), \"Autumn Leaves,\" and Bluiett's blues \"John.\" Bluiett pays tribute to the melodies before crashing through one's expectations of what a baritone sax can sound like.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile Pullen, with his atonal clusters but highly rhythmic playing, shows how accessible some aspects of the avant-garde can be. Bluiett and Pullen made for a great team (Hopkins, Muhammad, and Bay are also quite colorful) and fortunately this gig was well documented. Fans of advanced jazz and Bluiett will definitely want this recording. allmusic.com\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hamiet Bluiett","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39514581303456,"sku":"0068944913657","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39518314725536,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/6043904b-647c-4ad9-81ff-eb6c47f660dc13576376468175664924-LARGE_7ca22878-6c42-4622-a850-a78b7f2f06fa.jpg?v=1616145248"},{"product_id":"live-at-carlos-i-last-night-1","title":"Live at Carlos I: Last Night","description":"\u003cp\u003eThree CDs' worth of material was recorded in 1986 by a band that was only together for one week, time spent playing at a short-lived New York club called Carlos I. In fact, the full group actually played together for less than a week, for, unlike other volumes that feature Don Pullen on piano, this CD has pianist Mulgrew Miller. Otherwise the quintet is still comprised of baritonist Hamiet Bluiett, bassist Fred Hopkins, drummer Idris Muhammad, and Chief Bey on ashiko drum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group plays three Bluiett originals (including the Coltrane-ish blues \"John\" and \"Wide Open\"), a rather explorative version of \"Sophisticated Lady,\" and Miller's \"Eastern Joy,\" which hints strongly at music of the Far East. Although Miller does not fit into the band quite as well as Pullen (his McCoy Tyner-inspired playing sounds a bit conservative compared to Bluiett and Hopkins), there is plenty of spirit to this music. All three discs from this one-time gig are recommended to fans of the great baritonist Hamiet Bluiett.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e-Scott Yanow, All Music\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hamiet Bluiett","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39514601062560,"sku":"0068944913954","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/cd0d5c6e-7c71-42f0-ad82-995bc5cb09d211720179433329879429-LARGE_0d300138-cbc9-42a0-be9e-7fb4de7734ad.jpg?v=1616145481"},{"product_id":"saying-something-for-all-2","title":"Saying Something For All","description":"This CD can easily be divided into two parts. The first four selections are duets between Hamiet Bluiett (who is heard on baritone sax, flute, and soprano clarinet) and pianist Muhal Richard Abrams. Of much greater interest are the final two selections, both of which are unaccompanied baritone sax solos. \"Solo Flight\" is from the same concert as the duets, while \"Requiem for Kent State\" is from two years later. The latter is particularly wide-ranging, going through several themes and showing Bluiett's connection to the jazz tradition while being quite unpredictable.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e-Scott Yanow","brand":"Hamiet Bluiett","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39514618888352,"sku":"0068944913459","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39518321475744,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/0486d7b6-8ca2-469c-bb03-7e480051247e13409064603423919214-LARGE_77cd9999-9107-43e2-8e2b-e2d3d74859b1.jpg?v=1616145738"},{"product_id":"blueback","title":"Blueblack","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Bluiett Baritone Saxophone Group strikes again. Four baritone saxes make for quite a wall of low-register sound, and every quartet member but Bluiett -- Patience Higgins, James Carter, and Alex Harding -- doubles on bass clarinet. In Carter's case, make that contra-bass clarinet, an instrument that can cause the room to shake. Since the horns have the bass function covered, all that's needed are drums; hence the presence of trapsman Lee Person and percussionist Kahil El'Zabar. This is a challenging listen, even if it starts with a playful, lushly harmonized \"My Girl,\" the Motown hit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \"Humpback,\" the first of five compositions by Coleridge Taylor Perkinson, immediately follows, its dark, smeary rubato harmonies and ultra-low-end textures evoking the murky world of the whale. Bluiett's contributions (\"Blueblack\/Prelude to a Scream,\" \"Juxtaposition,\" \"Sasa -- The Here and Now\") tend to be more cacophonous, less structured; other tracks evoke a bright dance aesthetic (\"Zippin',\" \"LG's Place\"), touching upon what the late Lester Bowie liked to call \"great black music.\" Taylor Perkinson's double tribute \"Lamentation for JJ\/Ballad for Babs\" and his thoughtful \"Angles\" showcase the more elegant side of the quadruple-baritone configuration.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hamiet Bluiett","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39518451892384,"sku":"0068944015856","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39518545346720,"sku":"","price":18.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/164c8fca-9913-40b8-aa8d-9e9448579e1e15895309686405085162-LARGE_c927750a-2064-419c-8277-8d244da61a67.jpg?v=1616195939"},{"product_id":"libation-for-the-baritone-saxophone-nation-1","title":"Libation For The Baritone Saxophone Nation","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBluiett Baritone Saxophone Group: Hamiet Bluiett, James Carter, Alex Harding, Patience Higgins (baritone saxophone); Ronnie Burrage (drums).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecorded live at the 1997 Montreal Jazz Festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv hidden=\"\" id=\"longDescription\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBluiett Baritone Saxophone Group: Hamiet Bluiett, James Carter, Alex Harding, Patience Higgins (baritone saxophone); Ronnie Burrage (drums).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecorded live at the 1997 Montreal Jazz Festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbutton id=\"showLessDescription\" href=\"#\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-xs pull-right\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"#\"\u003eLess\u003c\/button\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv hidden=\"\" id=\"longDescription\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBluiett Baritone Saxophone Group: Hamiet Bluiett, James Carter, Alex Harding, Patience Higgins (baritone saxophone); Ronnie Burrage (drums).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecorded live at the 1997 Montreal Jazz Festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbutton id=\"showLessDescription\" href=\"#\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-xs pull-right\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"#\"\u003eLess\u003c\/button\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv hidden=\"\" id=\"longDescription\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBluiett Baritone Saxophone Group: Hamiet Bluiett, James Carter, Alex Harding, Patience Higgins (baritone saxophone); Ronnie Burrage (drums).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecorded live at the 1997 Montreal Jazz Festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbutton id=\"showLessDescription\" href=\"#\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-xs pull-right\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"#\"\u003eLess\u003c\/button\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv hidden=\"\" id=\"longDescription\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBluiett Baritone Saxophone Group: Hamiet Bluiett, James Carter, Alex Harding, Patience Higgins (baritone saxophone); Ronnie Burrage (drums).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecorded live at the 1997 Montreal Jazz Festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbutton id=\"showLessDescription\" href=\"#\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-xs pull-right\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"#\"\u003eLess\u003c\/button\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv hidden=\"\" id=\"longDescription\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBluiett Baritone Saxophone Group: Hamiet Bluiett, James Carter, Alex Harding, Patience Higgins (baritone saxophone); Ronnie Burrage (drums).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecorded live at the 1997 Montreal Jazz Festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbutton id=\"showLessDescription\" href=\"#\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-xs pull-right\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"#\"\u003eLess\u003c\/button\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"longDescription\" hidden=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBluiett Baritone Saxophone Group: Hamiet Bluiett, James Carter, Alex Harding, Patience Higgins (baritone saxophone); Ronnie Burrage (drums).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecorded live at the 1997 Montreal Jazz Festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbutton class=\"btn btn-default btn-xs pull-right\" href=\"#\" id=\"showLessDescription\" data-mce-href=\"#\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLess\u003c\/button\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"longDescription\" hidden=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBluiett Baritone Saxophone Group: Hamiet Bluiett, James Carter, Alex Harding, Patience Higgins (baritone saxophone); Ronnie Burrage (drums).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecorded live at the 1997 Montreal Jazz Festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbutton class=\"btn btn-default btn-xs pull-right\" href=\"#\" id=\"showLessDescription\" data-mce-href=\"#\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLess\u003c\/button\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hamiet Bluiett","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39518460477600,"sku":"0068944847051","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39518548459680,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/452dbe9d-cb18-4614-b076-c796778f17546891267510610072244-LARGE_83b1f478-a939-49c2-b805-fba9b4c273f8.jpg?v=1616196132"},{"product_id":"join-us-1","title":"Join Us","description":"","brand":"Hamiet Bluiett","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39518481875104,"sku":"0068944012459","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/6d9a261f-46ff-4d60-902f-32c6c2f870d816782731125818314896-LARGE_c9b233ee-ce1e-4acf-ba63-3e517cb2382c.jpg?v=1616196595"},{"product_id":"the-calling-1","title":"The Calling","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe musical traditions of the avant garde and bebop worlds are bridged through the powerful playing and array of grooves resulting from the collective improvisations of Hamiet Bluiett, D.D. Jackson, and Kahil El'Zabar on The Calling, Bluiett's eighth recording for the Justin Time record label. Recorded \"live\" with no overdubs, the Chicago-based percussionist El'Zabar, keyboardist Jackson, and baritone saxophone heavyweight and co-founder of the World Saxophone Quartet, Bluiett, voyage into unexplored soundscapes that remove many stylistic boundaries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBluiett plays with a warm, earthy, and glowing tone on ten great songs and picks up the wooden flute on \"Ask and You Shall Find\" to play a diverse fusion of Eastern and Western rhythms. El'Zabar wrote four songs for the program and lends his great vocals to such tracks as \"Open My Eyes,\" a highly imaginative song that weaves his folk artistry from a spiritual perspective and is somewhat reminiscent of the approach Richie Havens used in the late '60s on his protest and peace songs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEl'Zabar's wide array of percussive instruments, including the kalimba, extends his musical concepts, while his playing is deeply rooted in the global culturalism that the Chicago-based AACM has always embraced. Among the many stellar highlights on the disc is \"Blues Grind,\" which features a mean organ solo by Jackson\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e-Paula Edelstein, All Music\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eand the down-to-the-bone depth of Bluiett's baritone sax lines.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hamiet Bluiett","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39518498652320,"sku":"0068944016259","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/8153f755-855a-4ced-9c41-28a6859cedac4053504615564100013-LARGE_a161aa32-aebc-4d6b-92ae-f59c7d1da0a8.jpg?v=1616196851"},{"product_id":"same-space-1","title":"Same Space","description":"","brand":"Hamiet Bluiett","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39518502060192,"sku":"0068944010950","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/6b839e53-71e4-42a7-8703-a4dfabd4d73a3576065961996345049-LARGE_d9806611-e31c-4318-a660-2fccd6ac2a9a.jpg?v=1616196929"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/collections\/HamietBluiett.jpg?v=1616160921","url":"https:\/\/justin-time-records.myshopify.com\/collections\/hamiet-bluiett.oembed","provider":"Justin Time Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}