World Saxophone Quartet
| World Saxophone Quartet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Past members |
Julius Hemphill Oliver Lake Hamiet Bluiett David Murray Arthur Blythe Sam Rivers Eric Person James Spaulding John Purcell Bruce Williams Jaleel Shaw Jorge Sylvester Steve Potts Tony Kofi James Carter Kidd Jordan Branford Marsalis |
The World Saxophone Quartet is a jazz ensemble founded in 1977, incorporating elements of free funk and African jazz into their music.[1]
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). The first three had worked together as members of the Black Artists' Group in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1989, Hemphill left the group due to illness, and several saxophonists have filled his chair in the years since. In the late 1980s the quartet used Bluiett's composition "Hattie Wall" (recorded on W.S.Q., Live in Zurich, Dances and Ballads and Steppenwolf) as a signature theme for the group. The group principally recorded and performed as a saxophone quartet, usually with a lineup of two altos, tenor, and baritone (reflecting the composition of a classical string quartet), but were also joined occasionally by drummers, bassists, and other musicians.
Discography
Albums
| Title | Year | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point of No Return | 1977 | Moers Music | ||
| Steppin' with the World Saxophone Quartet | 1979 | Black Saint | ||
| W.S.Q. | 1981 | Black Saint | ||
| Revue | 1982 | Black Saint | ||
| Live in Zurich | 1984 | Black Saint | ||
| Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music | 1986 | Black Saint | ||
| Plays Duke Ellington | 1986 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Dances and Ballads | 1987 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Rhythm and Blues | 1989 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Metamorphosis | 1991 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Moving Right Along | 1993 | Black Saint | ||
| Breath of Life | 1994 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Four Now | 1996 | Justin Time | ||
| Takin' It 2 the Next Level | 1996 | Justin Time | ||
| Selim Sivad: a Tribute to Miles Davis | 1998 | Justin Time | ||
| Requiem for Julius | 2000 | Justin Time | ||
| 25th Anniversary: The New Chapter | 2001 | Justin Time | ||
| Steppenwolf | 2002 | Justin Time | ||
| Experience | 2004 | Justin Time | ||
| Political Blues | 2006 | Justin Time | ||
| Yes We Can[2] | 2010 | Jazzwerkstatt |