Hamiet Bluiett R.I.P.

[jcam_44]

As per the norm now, social media is reporting his passing. Very sad

[sonnymax]

"social media"? Would you please provide a reliable source for this distressing news? Thanks.

[mjzee]

It's on his Wikipedia page.

[sonnymax]

It is now, but it wasn't when the thread was created. Typically, the OP of an obituary thread cites a credible source, often providing a link so we can learn more. When a person hears of such the sad news, our first reaction is "Is it true?"

Rest in peace, Mr. Bluiett, and thank you. I'm going to listen to W.S.Q., the quartet's second release on Black Saint, and savor the sound of his big horn. 

[sidewinder]

 Very sad news if true - not confirmed on wiki though.

Edited October 5, 2018 by sidewinder

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, sidewinder said:

 Very sad news if true - not confirmed on wiki though.

Agreed, very sad.   First saw him with a Mingus Quintet.  Then later two or three times with the WSQ.  What a sound!

[soulpope]

R.I.P ....

[bluenoter]

http://stljazznotes.blogspot.com/2018/10/hamiet-bluiett-1940-2018.html

And a Facebook post by Anaya Bluiett, his daughter, after his death:

"Hamiet Bluiett Update: My dad has parted his ways PEACEFULLY today October 4th, 2018 at 3:10pm. I don't know how I'm feeling right now but I do know this: he will be celebrated the way he'd want to be celebrated. I love you forever and ALWAYS and your legacy will live on through me! #DaddysGirlForever"

Edited October 5, 2018 by bluenoter

[brownie]

Very sad news...

[Steve Reynolds]

One of the great ones

Way ahead of the pack on the baritone saxophone

When there is no one to compare to a musician, that might be an indication of something truly special

gonna dig out Impossible/To Keep

[robertoart]

Simply one of my favourite musicians of all time. RIP.

[medjuck]

I knew him mainly for his work with Gil Evans but I saw him once width a small group in an LA club and really enjoyed it. 

[Jason Bivins]

RIP.

[JSngry]

had the pleasure of hearing him in an afternoon Q&A session pre-concert with the WSQ way back when. A pointed, and pointedly witty, conversationalist. RIP, and much love here.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

RIP Hamiet. I'll always have those times I saw you up on stage (or marching around it as the case may be ).

Prostate cancer sucks. It's so sneaky - no real symptoms until it's almost too late.

Edited October 5, 2018 by Kevin Bresnahan

[clifford_thornton]

Had the great pleasure of seeing him a number of times, both solo and with ensembles. Interviewing him -- very early in my musician-interviewing days -- was amazing, as he was very kind and VERY serious but also hiLARIous. Rest in peace, Bluiett, and thanks.

[JSngry]

Did he ever mention the "blues map" to you? That's what makes me lol the most thinking about him, they asked him where he was from and he said some really tiny town somewhere I can't remember, and I think it was Hemphill who jibed hi with that place ain't even on no map, and Bluiett came right back with hey, it's on the BLUES map! Everybody laughed and then he explained that in France or someplace he saw a "blues map" that was just that, a map of the US with all the blues people's birthplaces and such.

NO idea if or how many legs were being pulled, but that was one of the best friend-exchanges between third parties I've ever had the pleasure of being in the room for.

[clifford_thornton]

Ha -- I don't think the BLUES map was brought up. He's from Lovejoy, IL which is on the mappity map as far as I know.

[JSngry]

Perhaps not!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn,_Illinois

[Hardbopjazz]

Wow, another loss.  R.I.P. Mr. Bluiett.  

[bluesoul]

https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2018/10/05/533784788/hamiet-bluiett-giant-of-the-baritone-sax-has-died-at-78

[Don Brown]

I remember seeing Hamiet Bluiiett and George Adams with Charles Mingus here in Toronto. At that time no one had heard of either one them, or of Don Pullen, who was the pianist in the band. The music they played had a visceral edge that most of us in the audience found to be very satisfying and it was obvious that Mingus was enjoying the music as much as we were. A couple of months later Mingus was here without Bluiett who'd been replaced by trumpeter Jack Walrath. Walrath was great but Adams didn't impress me as much as he had when playing alongside Bluiett.

[medjuck]

1 hour ago, Don Brown said:

I remember seeing Hamiet Bluiiett and George Adams with Charles Mingus here in Toronto. At that time no one had heard of either one them, or of Don Pullen, who was the pianist in the band. The music they played had a visceral edge that most of us in the audience found to be very satisfying and it was obvious that Mingus was enjoying the music as much as we were. A couple of months later Mingus was here without Bluiett who'd been replaced by trumpeter Jack Walrath. Walrath was great but Adams didn't impress me as much as he had when playing alongside Bluiett.

Do you remember where you saw them? I think the second time was at The El Mo but I've never remembered where the first one was. 

[Don Brown]

The Mingus band with Bluiett and Adams played in the basement of a hotel on Church Street south of Wellesley. Ted O'Reilly will remember the name of the place. As I recall, the band with Walrath and Adams played first at the Colonial Tavern then, later in the year, at El Mocambo. 

[medjuck]

Thanks. I'd always remembered it being in a basement or  (for some reason) a parking garage on the East side. Didn't remember that Bluiett was the 2nd horn.  Saw the band at the El Mocambo the night they played Happy Birthday for someone.