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.
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, and had appeared together on Anthony Braxton's album New York, Fall 1974. In 1991, Hemphill left the group due to illness, and was replaced by Arthur Blythe, although several saxophonists have filled his chair in the years since. Hemphill died on April 2, 1995. 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. 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. 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. The ensemble had split up in 2016.
Discography Predecessor Tack Composition No. 37 from "New York, Fall 1974" (Arista, AL 4032) [Anthony Braxton, Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill, Hamiet Bluiett] 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 M'Bizo 1999 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 2010 Jazzwerkstatt
References
External links Review of 2009's Yes We Can