Hamiet Bluiett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hamiet Bluiett
Oliver Lake (left) and Hamiet Bluiett
Background information
Born	(1940-09-16)September 16, 1940 Brooklyn, Illinois, U.S.
Died	October 4, 2018(2018-10-04) (aged 78) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Saxophone
Years active	1961–2018
Labels	India Navigation, Musica, Black Saint, Mapleshade, Knitting Factory, Moers, Justin Time
Associated acts	World Saxophone Quartet, D.D. Jackson, Kahil El'Zabar

Hamiet Bluiett, Vision XIII Festival

Hamiet Bluiett (pronounced BLUE-et) was an American jazz musician. He was born on September 16, 1940, and passed away on October 4, 2018. Hamiet was a talented saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His main instrument was the baritone saxophone. Many people thought he was one of the best baritone saxophone players ever. He was also a member of the famous World Saxophone Quartet. Besides the baritone saxophone, he also played the bass saxophone, E-flat alto clarinet, E-flat contra-alto clarinet, and even the wooden flute.

About Hamiet Bluiett's Life

Early Life and Musical Start

Hamiet Bluiett was born in a small village called Brooklyn, Illinois. This village is near East St. Louis. Brooklyn was special because it was founded as a safe place for free Black people in the 1830s. It later became the first town in America with a majority Black population.

When Hamiet was a child, he learned to play the piano, trumpet, and clarinet. But when he was ten years old, he fell in love with the baritone saxophone. He started his music career playing the clarinet for local dances in Brooklyn, Illinois. In 1961, he joined the Navy band. He also went to Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Finding His Own Style

When Hamiet was in his mid-twenties, he saw Harry Carney play live in Boston. Harry Carney was the baritone player for the famous Duke Ellington band. This concert really inspired Hamiet. It showed him that the baritone saxophone could be a lead instrument, not just one that plays in the background.

After his time in the Navy, Hamiet returned to the St. Louis area in the mid-1960s.

The Black Artists' Group

In the late 1960s, Hamiet helped start a group called the Black Artists' Group (BAG) in St. Louis, Missouri. BAG was a group of artists who wanted to support creative work. They focused on theater, visual arts, dance, poetry, film, and music. Hamiet led the BAG big band in 1968 and 1969.

Moving to New York City and Charles Mingus

In late 1969, Hamiet moved to New York City. There, he joined the Charles Mingus Quintet. Charles Mingus was a very important jazz musician. Hamiet also played with the Sam Rivers large ensemble.

In 1972, Hamiet toured Europe with Charles Mingus. He would sometimes leave to play with other bands, but he often came back to play with Mingus. In 1974, he rejoined Mingus and played in a quintet. He also performed in a famous concert called Mingus at Carnegie Hall. He continued to play with Mingus until 1975. After that, he started making his own music as a band leader.

The World Saxophone Quartet

In 1976, Hamiet helped create the World Saxophone Quartet. He started this group with two other members from the Black Artists' Group: Julius Hemphill and Oliver Lake. They were joined by another great saxophonist, David Murray. This quartet became very famous.

Unique Musical Groups

Hamiet Bluiett loved the baritone saxophone. He even put together large groups of only baritone saxophones! In the 1980s, he also formed a group called the Clarinet Family. This group had eight clarinet players. They played clarinets of all different sizes, from tiny E-flat soprano clarinets to huge contrabass clarinets.

Since the 1990s, Hamiet led a quartet called the Bluiett Baritone Nation. This group was made up entirely of baritone saxophones, with drums playing along.

Hamiet also worked with many other famous musicians. These included Babatunde Olatunji, Abdullah Ibrahim, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye.

Later Years and Legacy

In 2002, Hamiet moved back to his hometown of Brooklyn, Illinois. But in 2012, he returned to New York City. In his final years, he continued to perform. For example, he played at the New Haven Jazz Festival in 2009. He even performed with students from the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, Connecticut. Their group was called Hamiet Bluiett and the Improvisational Youth Orchestra.

Hamiet Bluiett passed away in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 4, 2018. He had been dealing with health issues for some time. He left behind a great legacy in the world of jazz music.

Discography

A discography is a list of all the recordings an artist has made. Here are some of the albums Hamiet Bluiett led or was a part of:

As a Leader

• 1976: Endangered Species (India Navigation)
• 1977: Bars (Musica)
• 1977: Resolution (Black Saint)
• 1978: Birthright (India Navigation)
• 1979: Im/Possible to Keep (India Navigation)
• 1981: Dangerously Suite (Soul Note)
• 1984: Ebu (Soul Note)
• 1987: The Clarinet Family (Black Saint)
• 1991: If You Have To Ask You Don't Need To Know (Tutu)
• 1993: Nali Kola (Soul Note)
• 1993: Sankofa / Rear Garde (Soul Note)
• 1994: Bearer of the Holy Flame (Black Fire)
• 1995: Young Warrior, Old Warrior (Mapleshade)
• 1996: Bluiett's Barbecue Band (Mapleshade)
• 1997: Live at the Village Vanguard - Ballads & Blues (Soul Note)
• 1997: Makin' Whoopee: Tribute to the King Cole Trio (Mapleshade)
• 1997: Hamiet Bluiett & Concept: Live at Carlos 1 (Justin Time, 1997)
• 1997: Hamiet Bluiett & Concept: Live at Carlos 1: Another Night (Justin Time, 1997)
• 1998: Hamiet Bluiett & Concept: Live at Carlos 1: Last Night (Justin Time, 1998)
• 1998: Bluiett Baritone Saxophone Group Live at the Knitting Factory (Knitting Factory)
• 1998: Bluiett Baritone Nation: Libation for the Baritone Saxophone Nation (Justin Time)
• 1999: Join Us (Justin Time) (with D. D. Jackson and Mor Thiam)
• 2000: With Eyes Wide Open (Justin Time)
• 2001: The Calling with D. D. Jackson and Kahil El'Zabar
• 2002: Blueblack

With the World Saxophone Quartet

As a Sideman (Playing with Others)

With The 360 Degree Music Experience

• In: Sanity (Black Saint, 1976)

With Lester Bowie

• The Great Pretender (ECM, 1981)

With Anthony Braxton

• New York, Fall 1974 (Arista, 1974)

With James Carter

• Conversin' with the Elders (Atlantic, 1996)
• Out of Nowhere (Half Note, 2005)

With Andrew Cyrille

• Route de Frères (Tum, 2011)

With Gil Evans

• Live at the Public Theater (New York 1980) (Trio, 1981)
• Bud and Bird (Electric Bird/King, 1986 [1987])
• Farewell (Evidence, 1986 [1992])

With Craig Harris

• F-Stops (Soul Note, 1993)

With Abdullah Ibrahim

• The Journey (Chiaroscuro, 1977)

With Charles Mingus

• Mingus at Carnegie Hall (Atlantic, 1974)

With the Music Revelation Ensemble

• In the Name of... (DIW, 1994)
• Knights of Power (DIW, 1996)

With David Murray

• Now Is Another Time (Justin Time, 2003)

With Sam Rivers' Rivbea All-star Orchestra

• Culmination (BMG France, 1999)

With Malachi Thompson

• Talking Horns (Delmark, 2001) with Oliver Lake

See also

In Spanish: Hamiet Bluiett para niños