Fat Man and the Hard Blues

1991 studio album by Julius Hemphill

Fat Man and the Hard Blues is an album by jazz saxophonist Julius Hemphill recorded in 1991 for the Italian Black Saint label.^[1]

Reception

The editors of AllMusic awarded the album 5 stars, and reviewer Scott Yanow stated: "These miniatures (all under seven minutes) are most notable for their fresh melodies, logical arrangements, and spirited ensembles".^[2]

The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings called the album "both an intelligent continuation of the last decade's work and a challenging new departure."^[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Julius Hemphill

1. "Otis' Groove" - 3:00
2. "Lenny" - 2:33
3. "Floppy" - 2:50
4. "Opening" - 4:07
5. "Headlines" - 2:59
6. "Four Saints" - 2:45
7. "Fat Man" - 5:16
8. "Glide" - 4:32
9. "Tendrils" - 6:18
10. "Anchorman" - 4:41
11. "Untitled" - 5:10
12. "Three-Step" - 2:00
13. "The Answer" - 2:18
14. "The Hard Blues" - 6:40

• Recorded at Sear Sound in New York City on June 15 & 16, 1991

Personnel

• Julius Hemphill - alto saxophone
• Marty Ehrlich - soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, flute
• Carl Grubbs - soprano saxophone, alto saxophone
• James Carter - tenor saxophone
• Andrew White - tenor saxophone
• Sam Furnace - baritone saxophone, flute

References

1. Black Saint Records discography accessed May 10, 2011
2. Yanow, S. Allmusic Review accessed May 10, 2011
3. Larkin, Colin, ed. (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford University Press. p. 238.
4. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 683. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
5. Swenson, John, ed. (1999). The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. p. 304.