Genre Jazz | ||
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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 Albums W.S.Q., Plays Duke Ellington, Live in Zurich Record labels Nonesuch Records Inc., Elektra Records Members David Murray, Oliver Lake, Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Arthur Blythe | ||
The World Saxophone Quartet is a jazz ensemble founded in 1977, incorporating elements of free funk and African jazz into their music.
Contents
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.
World saxophone quartet foxy lady
Songs
If 6 Was 9Experience · 2004
Hattie WallSteppenwolf · 2002
Foxey LadyExperience · 2004