Hamiet Bluiett

Hamiet Bluiett is the most prominent baritone saxophonist of his generation. He can make his instrument sing or rumble with proverbial nonchalant skill. His aggressive technique, and (maybe most importantly) a uniform hugeness of sound that extends from his horn's lowest reaches to far beyond what is usually its highest register, probably no other baritonist has played so high, with so much control; Bluiett's range travels upward into an area usually reserved for the soprano or even sopranino. His technical mastery aside, Bluiett's solo voice is unlikely to be confused with any other.

His latest project, Blueblack (JustinTime Records) is deeply meditative and bold, Bluiett and his team of musicians (the same fellow baritonists James Carter, Patience Higgins and Alex Harding that appear on his (Baritone Nation