Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The Julius Hemphill Sextet: At Dr. King's Table

247

The Julius Hemphill Sextet: At Dr. King's Table

By

Sign in to view read count
The Julius Hemphill Sextet: At Dr. King's Table
A 1997 release of note, “The Julius Hemphill Sextet” under the artistic direction of woodwind specialist Marty Ehrlich is a celebration of the late great saxophonist-composer Julius Hemphill and also features Ehrlich performing with his usual arsenal of saxophones, clarinets and flutes. Along with the top-flight sax section of Sam Furnace, Andy Laster, Andrew White, Gene Ghee and Alex Harding, the band take 16 Hemphill compositions under their wing while capturing the spirit of the late artist yet also performing as if these pieces were written specifically for this outing. Throughout, the Sextet maintains a personal if not thoroughly sonorous approach to these pieces gathered from Hemphill’s considerable body of work. Marty Ehrlich’s gorgeous alto sax lines on “What I Know” atop a poignant yet highly disciplined sax section is just one highlight of a recording that is brimming with ingenuity, soul and depth. Yet it all boils down to the blues, as in Hemphill’s “Sojourner’s Blues: Ain’t I A Woman?”. Here, tenor saxophonist Gene Ghee performs gutsy, soul-drenched lines in collaboration with the harmonious sax section who belt out the blues with an even-tempered attack, yet employ multiphonics and razor-sharp choruses with an emphasis on subtle tonalities. “A Bitter Glory” features the lamentable, introspective lines of alto saxophonist Andy Laster that further exemplifies Hemphill’s acute comprehension of traditional jazz forms and ideologies interwoven with his legendary flair for melodic invention.

At Dr. King’s Table is a moving tribute, yet the Julius Hemphill Sextet rapidly develop a distinct persona that is clearly their own, as the band’s certitude and warm sentiment is displayed in resplendent fashion. * * * * ½

Personnel

Marty Ehrlich; Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Alto Flute, Clarinet & Bass Clarinet: Sam Furnace; Alto & Soprano Sax: Andy Laster; Alto Sax & Flute: Gene Ghee; Tenor sax: Andrew White; Tenor Sax: Alex Harding; Baritone Sax

New World Recordings website: www.newworldrecordings.org

Album information

Title: At Dr. King's Table | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: New World Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.