Avant-garde jazz saxophonist probably best known as the founder of the World Saxophone Quartet, a group he formed in 1976 and left in the early '90s. He died of complications from heart disease and diabetes on April 2, 1995 at the age of 57.
NoBusiness Records proudly presents Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 5, a previously released live document capturing the remarkable creative energy of the Black Artists’ Group at Studio Rivbea in New York City on February 6, 1974. Featuring alto saxophonist and composer Julius Hemphill, trombonist Joseph Bowie, cellist Abdul Wadud, drummer Charles “Bobo” Shaw, and special guest violinist Raymond Lee Cheng, this essential archival recording offers an intense, searching encounter at the crossroads of …
Julius Hemphill was a visionary saxophonist and composer whose music fused avant-garde exploration with deep blues and gospel roots. Marty Ehrlich, one of Hemphill’s close collaborators and protégés, is a multi-reedist and composer known for his lyrical improvisation and commitment to extending Hemphill’s legacy through performance, composition, and curation.
This archival release of the duo from Julius Hemphill and Marty Ehrlich offers a rare, deep-listening window into their long-standing crea…
An original member of the legendary Black Artists Group (St. Louis' counterpart to the AACM), and founder of the World Sax Quartet, Julius Hemphill was one of the most important composer/performers in creative music. His work is marked by a sharp, edgy melodicism steeped in the blues, contrapuntal complexity and a striking formal logic. One Atmosphere presents the full range of his compositional talents: a long, epic work for seven woodwinds (one of his greatest compositions, here receiving its …
Special discounted Bundle. Two of the greatest free jazz records ever laid to tape, back where they belong. Superior Viaduct reissues Noah Howard's The Black Ark and Julius Hemphill's Dogon A.D. — both from 1972, both inexplicably scarce for decades, both essential.
The Black Ark finds Howard backed by a towering ensemble — Norris Jones (Sirone), Arthur Doyle, Leslie Waldron, Earl Cross, Juma Sultan, Mohammed Ali — in four tracks that move from hard-blown spiritual fire to lyrical catharsis. Des…
Julius Hemphill's 1972 debut, self-produced for his Mbari label and recorded in St. Louis with Baikida Carroll, Abdul Wadud and Phillip Wilson. The title track spends fourteen minutes on a funky 11/8 groove.
* 2021 Stock * A never earlier released duo recording that was played back in 1987 at Kassiopeia, Wuppertal brings these two great musicians and composers together for this unique and unforgettable session. The late great saxophonist Julian Hemphill and bassist Peter Kowald ate their peak
In response to the arguably self-righteous pronouncements made in the 1990s as to what jazz is and isn’t, Julius Hemphill (1938–1995) spoke up as he had done throughout his career. “Well, you often hear people nowadays talking about the tradition, tradition, tradition. But they have tunnel vision in this tradition. Because tradition in African-American music is wide as all outdoors.” This collection of music, this celebration of artistic collaborations that engaged Julius Hemphill throughout his…
One of the essential albums of 70’s creative jazz, and a landmark recording in the second wave avant-garde movement of that era. The music of the late great saxophonist and composer Julius Hemphill presents a strong combination of Blues roots, free energy and bop complexity. Hemphill's compositions were meaty enough to offer the improvisers plenty of ideas, but they were airy and open, too. They left room for solos, accompanied by the rhythm section and unaccompanied, and for group improvisation…