World Saxophone Quartet

Biography

The World Saxophone Quartet was an American jazz ensemble founded in 1976-1977 that became one of the most commercially and critically successful avant-garde jazz groups of its era.[1][2] The group originated when Ed Jordan, chairman of the Music Department at Southern University in New Orleans, invited four accomplished saxophonists—Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, Hamiet Bluiett, and David Murray—to conduct a series of clinics and performances together.[1][2] Three of these musicians (Hemphill, Lake, and Bluiett) were already acquainted from the vibrant St. Louis jazz scene of the 1960s and early 1970s, where they had worked together as members of the Black Artists' Group.[2][3] The enthusiastic audience response to their unaccompanied saxophone performances convinced the musicians to formalize the concept, and they began performing at venues like the Tin Palace in New York City, initially calling themselves the Real New York Saxophone Quartet before changing their name to the World Saxophone Quartet to avoid legal conflict with a preexisting group of the same name.[1][2]

Musically, the World Saxophone Quartet distinguished itself by melding jazz-based, harmonically adventurous improvisation with sophisticated composition, incorporating elements of free jazz, R&B, funk, and South African jazz into their distinctive sound.[1][3] All four original members were accomplished composers and improvisers who drew inspiration from post-bop and free jazz pioneers including Albert Ayler, Anthony Braxton, Steve Lacy, Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, and Eric Dolphy.[2] The group released their debut album, Point of No Return, in 1977 on the Moers Music label, an almost completely improvised effort that established their experimental credentials.[1] By the time they signed with Elektra/Musician in 1986, the band had evolved into a well-rehearsed, compositionally sophisticated ensemble. Their 1986 album Plays Duke Ellington was named among the year's best albums by the New York Times and earned them recognition as "the most original and important group to emerge since Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane redefined group improvisation in the late 1950s."[1][4]

The group's lineup remained stable until Julius Hemphill's departure in 1990 due to illness (he died in 1995), after which several saxophonists filled his alto chair, including Arthur Blythe (1990-1992, 1994-1995), James Spaulding (1993), Eric Person (1993-1996), and finally John Purcell, who became the permanent replacement in 1996.[1][2][3] Throughout their career, despite being primarily a saxophone-oriented ensemble, the World Saxophone Quartet incorporated a wide variety of woodwinds and later collaborated with drummers, bassists, and other musicians, establishing themselves as a powerhouse repertory band that toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan.[1][4]

Fun Facts

• The group was originally called the 'Real New York Saxophone Quartet' when they performed at the Tin Palace in New York City, but were forced to change their name after reportedly being threatened with a lawsuit by a preexisting group called the New York Saxophone Quartet, leading to their now-famous name: the World Saxophone Quartet.[1]
• The group's signature tune 'Hattie Wall,' composed by Hamiet Bluiett, was so iconic that it was adapted into a music video directed by renowned filmmaker Robert Longo.[4]
• Despite being an avant-garde free jazz group, the World Saxophone Quartet achieved the rare distinction of securing a major-label record deal with Elektra/Musician in the 1980s—an almost unheard-of occurrence for retro-jazz and experimental music during that decade.[1]
• Jon Pareles of the New York Times described the World Saxophone Quartet as 'the most original and important group to emerge since Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane redefined group improvisation in the late 1950s,' and the group was named 'Best Jazz Group' by Playboy magazine's Reader's Poll in 1987.[2][4]

Members

• Julius Hemphill - flute, original (from 1977 until 1991)
• Julius Hemphill - original, soprano saxophone (from 1977 until 1991)
• Julius Hemphill - alto saxophone, original (from 1977 until 1991)
• Hamiet Bluiett - alto clarinet, original (from 1977 until 2016)
• Hamiet Bluiett - baritone saxophone, original (from 1977 until 2016)
• Oliver Lake - original, soprano saxophone (from 1977 until 2016)
• Oliver Lake - alto saxophone, original (from 1977 until 2016)
• David Murray - bass clarinet, original (from 1977 until 2016)
• David Murray - original, tenor saxophone (from 1977 until 2016)
• Arthur Blythe (from 1991)
• James Spaulding

Original Members

• Arthur Blythe

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Ed Jordan - Chairman of the Music Department at Southern University in New Orleans who brought the four saxophonists together for clinics and performances, inspiring the formation of the group (Initial clinics and performances at Southern University) [1976]
• John Carter - Jazz clarinetist who taught Julius Hemphill during his formative years in Fort Worth, Texas (Private instruction) [1960s-early 1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Julius Hemphill - Original alto and soprano saxophonist, flute player, and composer; founding member (Point of No Return, Live in Zurich, Plays Duke Ellington, Dances and Ballads) [1976-1990]
• Oliver Lake - Original alto and soprano saxophonist and composer; founding member from St. Louis jazz scene (Point of No Return, Live in Zurich, Plays Duke Ellington, Dances and Ballads) [1976-present]
• Hamiet Bluiett - Original baritone saxophonist and alto clarinetist; composer of the group's signature theme 'Hattie Wall' (Point of No Return, Live in Zurich, Plays Duke Ellington, Dances and Ballads) [1976-present]
• David Murray - Original tenor saxophonist and bass clarinetist; founding member and composer (Point of No Return, Live in Zurich, Plays Duke Ellington, Dances and Ballads) [1976-present]
• Arthur Blythe - Alto saxophonist who replaced Julius Hemphill in two separate tenures (Various albums during replacement periods) [1990-1992, 1994-1995]
• John Purcell - Soprano saxophone player and permanent replacement for Julius Hemphill; previously member of Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition (Albums from 1996 onward) [1996-present]
• Anthony Braxton - Free jazz pioneer whose album New York, Fall 1974 featured three of the original WSQ members (Hemphill, Lake, Bluiett) (New York, Fall 1974) [1974]

Artists Influenced

• Post-bop and free jazz musicians - The World Saxophone Quartet is considered among the legitimate heirs to pioneers like Albert Ayler, Anthony Braxton, Steve Lacy, Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, and Eric Dolphy, continuing their experimental traditions (All WSQ albums from 1977 onward) [1976-present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Cairo Blues (Breath Of Life)
2. Hal's Blues (Political Blues)
3. Amazin' Disgrace (Political Blues)
4. Political Blues (Political Blues)
5. When the Monarchs Come to Town (Takin' It 2 the Next Level)
6. The Holy Men (Metamorphosis)
7. Suffering with the Blues (Breath Of Life)
8. Steppin' (Steppin' With)
9. Mannish Boy (Political Blues)
10. Let's Have Some Fun (Political Blues)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz