Selection: Side A ( excerpt, edited out Don Pullen’s laborious introductory solo) – 15 minutes long! – full system audio-rip mp3 320kbps
. . .
Hopefully you will be as captivated by the performance as I was, outside my usual comfort zone. For audio-quality contrast, Youtube, full album. If you think it sounds as good, I have wasted an awful lot of money on high-end hifi.
Track List
Artists
Don Pullen, piano; Famoudou Don Moye, drums; Fred Hopkins, bass; Hamiet Bluiett, baritone saxophone, recorded live at Axis, Soho, Lower Manhattan, New York City, August 15, 1977.
Bluiett found early exposure touring with the Charles Mingus Quintet in the ’70s, before advancing under his own name, for the decidedly non-mainstream labels India Navigation, Soul Note and Black Saint.
A five-decade evangelist for the baritone saxophone, Hamiet Bluiett created “a fresh, innovative approach to playing the the instrument. With his five-octave range, circular-breathing technique and uncanny combination of power and precision, Bluiett reinvented the circumscribed role of the baritone saxophone in small group, large ensemble and solo settings” ( Downbeat Obituary).
Hamiet set out his stall in an earlier Downbeat interview: “I’m tired of trying to fit in with trumpet music, tenor music, alto music, soprano music. … We’ve got to play what this horn will sound like. … So, what I’m doing is redesigning the music to fit the horn. …“
His baritone reaches high into the upper register, areas usually inhabited by the soprano; less free jazz than an outspoken vocabulary in the mainstream tradition, a perfect recipe for Bob Cummins avant-leaning late ’70s India Navigation label, documenting the Manhattan loft scene:
and the early ’80s Soul Note label:
From the late ’80s and ’90s onward Bluiett continued to record for release on CD for avant-diaspora labels unknown to me, Justin Time and Just A Memory (Canada), DIW, Black Fire, TUTU (Germany), Mapleshade, and Half Note, among others. I’m not sure any of this music would ever be “popular” but you have to admire Bluiett’s commitment to his art.
Music
We have come to Save you frOm Yourselves – Live In New York City – approaching forty minute continuous excursion by the Hamiet Bluiett quartet
Though listed as containing three “songs”, effectively it is a 37+ minute continuous live concert performance of Bluiett’s Quartet, with a 30 second break to turn the LP over from Side A to Side B. Each player is given feature solo improvisation space, supported by the other players, not missing a beat.
Don Pullen opens with an abstract canvas, which leads the quartet to establish a soulful latin groove. In the best Pharoah tradition, the listener is lulled into a false sense of security. Cracks begin to show as Bluett’s baritone begins probing the upper register, delicately placed hints of dissonance which intensify, evolving ultimately into hair-raising chaos. The reins are handed to soloists, concluded by appreciative applause. Finally, the groove returns to earth, goodness is that the time? – glances at watch, time has been stolen.
If you were to sample the album randomly, you wouldn’t get it – it’s the whole cloth, each moment depends on what preceded it, and what follows, freedom in the context of structure, don’t touch that handset or playlist, exercise the discipline of active listening from your front-row sofa. Got to love India Navigation for capturing and preserving this music, I couldn’t recommend this album highly enough.
Vinyl: India Navigation IN 1039 (recorded 1977 issued in 1979)
Collector’s Corner
Reminder of the 1970s, different world. Fifty years later they may now have lung cancer … but seen here, no mobile phones, tattoos, obesity or gender dysphoria, and they seem happy enough.
What’s this got to do with Hamiet Bluiett? Nothing really.
Bluiett is or was entirely unknown to me until now. He was a player in the late ’70s World Saxophone Quartet, alongside tenorist David Murray, who I have heard, but have not found especially likeable. Is there anything in Bluiett’s large discography anyone can recommend – on vinyl? I’m out of my depth, wandering like a lost tourist in the unfamiliar New York Loft Scene; the ’70s are a mixed neighbourhood, and it’s starting to get dark…
LJC
LondonJazzCollector 
two baritone saxophonists in a row, what a rare occasion! I always liked Parker for his big sound, something he shared with Bluiett. Both have the tendency to play too many clichés for my taste. But Bluiett plays his own stuff and his own patterns which makes him a 100% original voice on his instrument. The problem is, his “stuff” is kind of limited, so his solos sound very similar for my ears. And so it’s very hard to recommend any special LP. I like the stuff with Mingus, the “Mingus at Carnegie Hall” 3 LP issue from a few years ago is a good example. And I always liked the three “Live at Carlos” records which unfortunately can only be found on CD.
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Cool post.I subscribed. Have a happy week🍀☘️
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“Ebu” is his most straight ahead. A quartet with John Hicks on piano (they even do Night In Tunisia). He plays with John Stubblefield on the latter’s “Countin’ The Blues” on Enja. He is part of the wonderful “Well Kept Secret” by Beaver Harris/ Don Pullen on Shemp, and part of the all star ensemble from Dollar Brand “African Space Program” also on Enja. All excellent.
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Had to check it wasn’t April 1st!
It’s lightyears from the classic Blue Note period to Free Jazz and Hamiet Bluiett. The thought of LJC placing avant garde on that mighty hifi boggles the mind. No matter, check out Julius Hemphill’s 1975 Coon Bid’ness. The lengthy final track,The Hard Blues has Bluiett in fine form. The track itself is a killer and no doubt would sound rather tasty on your set up.
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I thought of Hard Blues too, which also appears on the 2lp International Phonograph reissue of Hemphill’s masterpiece Dogon AD. Its avant, but gutbucket, to keep even LJC interested. Essential music.
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As far as I remember, there is no solo by Bluiett on Hard Blues, he only plays in the ensembles and some low note honks under the collective impro by Hemphill, Carroll and Wadud…!?
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