Jazz Articles about Bluiett

World Saxophone Quartet: Political Blues

by AAJ Italy Staff
November 6, 2006

Con una forza dirompente arriva un nuovo capitolo della saga del World Saxophone Quartet, un album di denuncia, molto politicizzato e che attacca, senza tanti giri di parole, l’attuale situazione americana. Il longevo gruppo (che festeggerà l’anno prossimo il trentennale), con alla testa i tre superstiti David Murray, Oliver Lake e Bluiett dà una decisa scossa all’ambiente del jazz con un prodotto che trasuda energia “nera”in tutti i suoi brani e porta una ventata di aria fresca, pulita, che affonda ...

Bluiett: Blueblack

by AAJ Staff
July 10, 2002

Sometimes schooling is overrated. Sure, one has to be familiar with the jazz tradition in order to play the music, it's true. But formal education is a poor way to learn how to exploit imperfections and empower playing with raw energy. Those are things you have to learn from experience. Bluiett, who's been busy with his horn for decades now, is an expert on those subjects. As a member of the St.Louis Black Artists Group and the World Saxophone Quartet, ...

Bluiett : The Calling

by Jim Santella
June 1, 2001

Bluiett, Jackson and El'Zabar pour a little of everything into their collaboration. Wordless scat vocals, lyrical ballads, soulful blues, leading-edge exploring, modern jazz, and exotic vocal incantations make for an eclectic session. Kahil El'Zabar sets a fascinating scene with his spiritual singing and natural drum accompaniment. D.D. Jackson applies his adventurous keyboard technique to each of the widely different scenarios. Bluiett takes over, asserting his gospel-tinged baritone saxophone all over the place with a veteran's sense of swing. It's the ...

Bluiett/Jackson/El'Zabar: The Calling

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 2001

The BJE trio lies comfortably at the intersection between jazz, tribal music, blues, and gospel. In its original form as BJT (with Senegalese percussionist Mor Thiam), this trio defined and occupied a niche. The new reincarnation continues to expand that sound. By distilling modern jazz and consciously returning to the roots of the tradition, these players sidestep the pedantic intellectualism that unfortunately dominates much of today's improvised music.

That's not to say that The Calling is not a serious endeavor. ...

Bluiett: With Eyes Wide Open

by AAJ Staff
December 1, 2000

A veteran of over three decades of jazz history, Bluiett has long been jazz's leading proponent of the baritone saxophone. His well-documented experience in the World Saxophone Quartet, as well as the baritone quartet Baritone Saxophone Nation, long ago established him as a superlative composer, arranger, and improviser. Two recent trio records with BJT (Bluiett/Jackson/Thiam) presented Bluiett in a more playful context, tending toward a lighter, riffy, contrapunctal sound.

With Eyes Wide Open establishes a new nom de plume for ...

Bluiett: With Eyes Wide Open

by Jim Santella
October 1, 2000

The baritone saxophone has sure made a significant impact on jazz through the years. The instrument’s voice resonates on such an open wavelength that we consider it friendly in any situation. And Hamiet Bluiett has experience with just about every jazz situation imaginable. From college to the Navy and beyond, Bluiett has encountered swing, bebop, free jazz and the avant-garde. This latest album represents happy music - creative, sentimental and highly melodic – that any audience would find enjoyable.

Jumping ...

Bluiett/Jackson/Thiam: Join Us

by AAJ Staff
July 1, 2000

The intersection of the musical worlds of Hamiet Bluiett, D.D. Jackson, and Mor Thiam spans decades of musical tradition and continents of cultural history. The second recording by this group on Justin Time was recorded in late '98 in New York City, live in the studio. Bluiett, a founding member of the World Saxophone quartet, articulates the most “forward" voice on the record. Bluiett's maturity is demonstrated through relatively sparse playing and extensive use of groovy riffs to accompany the ...