Hamiet Bluiett was an American musician said by Variety magazine to be "widely considered as one of the greatest baritone saxophonists in jazz history". When he died aged 78 on 4th October 2018, the New York Times noted that he was "a central figure in jazz, primarily as a member of the renowned World Saxophone Quartet" and said he "expanded the possibilities of his instrument while connecting the jazz avant-garde with a broad view of its own history".
Born in St. Louis, he grew up in Brooklyn, Illinois and played piano and the clarinet as a child. While at Southern Illinois University, he turned to the baritone saxophone influenced by Duke Ellington band member Harry Carney. Following military service, he moved back to St. Louis in 1966 and joined fellow saxophonists Julius Hemphill and Oliver Lake in the Black Artists Group. After relocating to New York City in 1974, he performed with the Sam Rivers Orchestra and the Charles Mingus Band. He released three albums as a band leader in 1977 - 'Resolution', 'Endangered Species' and 'Orchestra Duo and Septet' followed in 1978 by live recording 'Birthright'. He made around 50 albums with various collaborators and ensembles such as the World Saxophone Quartet, Bluiett Baritone Nation and Clarinet Family until he ceased performing in 2016 due to ill health.
