This Timeline, which draws on archival materials and secondary sources, includes dates of known recording sessions, significant performances, and commissions by Julius Hemphill. Commercial releases are listed by date of session (when known), and not by release date. All compositions are by Julius Hemphill unless noted otherwise. Bandleaders other than Hemphill are listed in parentheses after recording title. (Timeline prepared by Brian Fairley in 2018.)
Click on the dates at the bottom of the page to jump to specific years.
1969
Father of Origin (Juma Sultan’s Aboriginal Music Society, Eremite Records MTE-56)
– Date of recording unknown, likely post-1969, with probable location the Tinker Street Cinema in Woodstock, NY.
– Hemphill plays alto saxophone on two untitled tracks on this 2011 archival release.
1971
The Collected Poem for Blind Lemon Jefferson (Mbari MPC 502)
– Includes: The Collected Poem for Blind Lemon Jefferson (text by K. Curtis Lyle).
“Image: Sons/Ancestors” performance by the African Continuum at Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis
– At Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis, February 26, 1971.
– Multimedia performance featuring Hemphill and other members of the Black Artists’ Group.
1972
“Kawaida,” a mixed-media performance at Washington University, St. Louis
“The Orientation of Sweet Willie Rollbar,” a film, left incomplete by Hemphill and collaborators.
Hustlers Convention (Lightnin’ Rod [Jalal Mansur Nuriddin], United Artists UA-LA156-F)
– Hemphill played saxophone on this recording.
Dogon A.D. (Mbari MPC 501)
– Includes: Dogon A.D.; Rites; The Painter.
– “The Hard Blues,” recorded at this session, was not on the 1972 release, but was included on ’Coon Bid’ness (1975) and on the 2011 reissue of Dogon A.D.
1973
Stage version of “The Orientation of Sweet Willie Rollbar,” performed at Ornette Coleman’s Prince Street Loft, NYC.
1974
Fast Last! (Lester Bowie, Muse MR 5055)
– Recorded at C. I. Music Studios, NYC, in September 1974.
– Includes: Lonely Woman (Coleman; arr. Hemphill); Banana Whistle; C.
Streets of St. Louis (Charles Bobo Shaw, Moers Music 02020)
– Recorded live at Studio Rivbea, NYC, September 6, 1974.
New York, Fall 1974 (Anthony Braxton, Arista Freedom AL 1012)
– Julius Hemphill played alto saxophone on Side Two, Cut Two.
– Recorded September 27 and October 16, 1974.
“Obituary: Cosmos for Three Parts” performed at Space Life Center, NYC, in December, 1974.
1975
’Coon Bid’ness (Arista Freedom AL 1012)
– Recorded January 29, 1975.
– Includes: Reflections; Lyric; Skin 1; Skin 2.
– “The Hard Blues,” included on this record, had been recorded in 1972.
Heavy Spirits (Oliver Lake, Arista AL 1008)
– Recorded at C.I. Music Studios, NYC, February 3, 1975.
– Includes: Lonely Blacks.
1976
Wildflowers 4: New York Loft Jazz Sessions (Douglas NBLP 7048)
– Recorded at Studio Rivbea, NYC, between May 14-23, 1976.
– Includes: Pensive.
Live in New York (Red Record VPA 138)
– Recorded at La MaMa, NYC, May 28, 1976.
– Duo album with Abdul Wadud.
– Includes: In Space; Pensive; Echo 1 (Morning); Echo 2 (Evening).
“Water Music for Woodwinds”
– Composition for seven reeds (premiered by Hemphill, Hamiet Bluiett, Charles Tyler, David Murray, Oliver Lake, Chico Freeman, and John Scott).
– “Environmental performance” premiered July 17, 1976. (Recordings in the Julius Hemphill Papers.)
Roi Boyé and the Gotham Minstrels (Sackville 3014/15)
– Solo album created through overdubbing. (Hemphill’s term is “audiodrama.”)
– Accompaniment recorded at Matthew Street Studios, Larchmont, NY, in November 1976.
– “Audio drama in its entirety” (i.e., overdubs) recorded at Thunder Sound, Toronto, on March 1, 1977.
— Includes: Roi Boyé and the Gotham Minstrels (four tracks with same title).
1977
Çonceré Ntasiah (Charles Bobo Shaw and the Human Arts Ensemble, Universal Justice Records UJ 101)
– Recorded at Studio Rivbea, NYC, date unknown.
– Hemphill played soprano saxophone on this recording.
Blue Boyé (Mbari MPC 1000x)
– Recorded at Matthew Street Studios, Larchmont, NY, in January 1977.
– Compositions recorded: Countryside; Hotend; OK Rubberband; Antecedent; Kansas City Line; C.M.E.; Dirty Row; Homeboy Tootin’ at the Dog/Star.
Point of No Return (World Saxophone Quartet, Moers Music 01034)
– Recorded live at the 6th International New Jazz Festival in Moers, Germany, on May 28, 1977.
– Compositions recorded: Dar El Sudan; Bayou Sketch.
“Water Music for Woodwinds” at Columbia University.
– Performed on October 3, 1977.
Raw Materials and Residuals (Black Saint BSR 0015)
– Trio recording with Abdul Wadud and Don Moye.
– Recorded at Generation Sound Studios, NYC, in November 1977.
– Compositions recorded: C; Mirrors; Long Rhythm; Plateau; G Song.
“Janus Company Sessions”
– Trio with Baikida Carroll and Alex Cline, recorded for Aten Records in Los Angeles, December 10, 1977. No commercial release.
– See the Lee Kaplan Collection on Julius Hemphill for the archival session recordings (coming soon).
1978
Buster Bee (Oliver Lake and Julius Hemphill, Sackville 3018)
– Recorded at Eastern Sound, Toronto, on March 1, 1978
— Includes: Buster Bee; Fertility; S.
Concert at Century City Playhouse, Los Angeles, featuring a suite of pieces on circus themes.
– Live recordings in archive from May 28 and 29, 1978.
– Includes: After the Crowd; Bimbo: The Elephant; Dimples: The Fat Lady on Parade; Dung.
Ralph Ellison’s Long Tongue at the Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C.
– Multimedia theater performance, premiered November 2, 1978.
Steppin’ with the World Saxophone Quartet (World Saxophone Quartet, Black Saint BSR 0027)
– Recorded at Ricordi Studios, Milan, in December 1978.
– Includes: Steppin’; Dream/Scheme; Hearts: R&B.
1979
“The Boyé Multinational Crusade for Harmony” at D.C. Space, Washington, D.C.
– Concert featuring Hemphill, Phillip Wilson, Baikida Carroll, and Abdul Wadud, on November 23, 1979. (Live recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
1980
W.S.Q. (World Saxophone Quartet, Black Saint BSR 0046)
– Recorded at Sound Heights Studio, Brooklyn, in March 1980.
– Compositions recorded: Plain Song; Connections; Pillars Latino.
Chile New York (Julius Hemphill and Warren Smith, Black Saint 0146)
– Recorded in New York City on May 1, 1980.
– This was created as the sound environment for an installation by the artist Jeff Schlanger, made in response to the 1973 coup and dictatorship in Chile.
– Includes: Chile New York.
Flat-Out Jump Suite (Black Saint BSR 0040)
– First recording by the Julius Hemphill Quartet (Hemphill, Olu Dara, Abdul Wadud, and Warren Smith)
– Recorded at Barigozzi Studio, Milan, on June 4 & 5, 1980.
– Includes: Ear; Mind (1st part); Mind (2nd part); Heart; Body.
“The New Music Remembers the Old Master” at Town Hall, NYC
– Tribute concert to Duke Ellington as part of the Newport Jazz Festival, on July 6, 1980. (Live recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers.)
– Composition performed: I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good) (Ellington; arr. Hemphill).
Revue (World Saxophone Quartet, Black Saint BSR 0056)
– Recorded at IRCAM, Georges Pompidou Centre, Paris, on October 14, 1980.
– Includes: Revue; Affairs of the Heart; Slide; Little Samba.
Julius Hemphill Orchestra at the Public Theatre, NYC
– Concert featuring 12-piece big band, on November 1, 1980. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers.)
– Compositions performed: Border Town; Open Air; What I Know Now; Lady S.
1981
“Ralph Ellison’s Long Tongue” at The Kitchen, NYC
– January 2 & 3, 1981.
Ram’s Run (Kalaparush Maurice McIntyre, Cadence Jazz Records CJR 1009)
– Hemphill played alto saxophone on this record.
– Recorded live at Soundscape, NYC, on March 6, 1981.
“The Grand Collaboration”: The World Saxophone Quartet with Max Roach & M’Boom
– Concert at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, NYC, on June 26, 1981.
– Hemphill wrote the suite Wind/Rhythms for this collaboration.
– The concert was recorded live for NPR’s Jazz Alive! radio program.
Workshops with Julius Hemphill at Milwaukee Museum of Fine Arts
– October 21, 23, & 26, 1981. (Recordings in the Julius Hemphill Papers.)
Live in Zurich (World Saxophone Quartet, Black Saint BSR 0077)
– Recorded at Zurich International Festival on November 6, 1981.
– Includes: Funny Paper; Touchic; My First Winter; Bordertown; Steppin; Stick.
1982
Show Stopper (Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Gramavision GR 8301)
– Recorded in Philadelphia, 1982 or 1983.
– Hemphill plays alto saxophone on the title track, written by Tacuma.
Shadows and Reflections (Baikida Carroll, Soul Note SN 1023)
– Recorded in Newburgh, New York, on January 13 & 20, 1982.
– Hemphill plays alto and tenor saxophone on this album.
World Saxophone Quartet at Avery Fisher Hall, New York City
– Concert on June 29, 1982. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
K. Curtis Lyle and Julius Hemphill, “New Jazz at the Public Theatre”
– Concert on August 13, 1982.
World Saxophone Quartet at Detroit Institute of the Arts
– Concert on November 7, 1982. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
1984
JAH Band at Kimball’s, San Francisco
– Concert on March 17, 1984. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
– Compositions performed: Dung; Dogon A.D.; Testament #5; Float; Pigskin; Bordertown; At Harmony.
Georgia Blue (JAH Band, Minor Music 003)
– Recorded at the Willisau Jazz Festival in Willisau, Switzerland, on August 31, 1984. (Additional live recordings in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
– Includes: Georgia Blue; The Hard Blues; Testament #5; Dogon II.
1985
Julius Hemphill with D.C. Jazz Workshop Orchestra at Gallery Place, Washington D.C.
– Concert on September 1, 1985.
– Composition performed: Overture to Long Tongues: A Saxophone Opera.
Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music (World Saxophone Quartet, Black Saint BSR 0096)
– Recorded in concert on December 6, 1985.
– Includes: One/Waltz/Time; Open Air (For Tommy); Georgia Blue.
1986
Julius Hemphill Quartet at Fort Washington Men’s Shelter, New York City
– Concert on January 21, 1986. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
Julius Hemphill with the Barbary Coast Jazz Ensemble, Hanover, NH
– Concert on February 8, 1986. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
– Compositions performed: C (Those Blues); Bordertown; At Harmony; The Hard Blues.
JAH Band in Hofheim, Germany
– Concert on March 15, 1986. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
– Compositions performed: Dung; The Thang; Temporarily; One/Waltz/Time; Testament; Dogon A.D.; Georgia Blue; The Hard Blues.
Plays Duke Ellington (World Saxophone Quartet, Nonesuch 79137-1)
– Recorded at RCA Studios, New York, in April 1986.
– Includes: Lush Life; Take the ‘A’ Train.
Julius Hemphill with Jack DeJohnette Jazz Machine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
– Concert on May 27, 1986. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
– Hemphill arranged several DeJohnette compositions for this performance.
– Compositions performed: Ebony; Ahmad the Terrible; One for Eric.
Julius Hemphill with Bill Cole Ensemble
– Concert at Symphony Space in New York City on September 26, 1986, and at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, on September 27, 1986.
– Performances featured Hemphill’s arrangements of compositions by Bill Cole.
– Compositions performed: To Sow Is To Reap; Live With Humble Man / Spirit; Tormenter; Beat Drum / Man Man; One Man’s Hatred / Destiny; Don’t Go To Bed With Your Roof Afire; Man Woman Snake Dead.
Jungle Cowboy (Jean-Paul Bourelly, JMT Productions JMT 870009)
– Recorded at Sound Ideas, New York City, in December 1986.
– Hemphill plays alto saxophone on this album.
1987
Beyond Benghazi (Paul Cram Orchestra featuring Julius Hemphill, Apparition Records A-0987-8)
– Recorded at Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton, Ontario, month/date unknown.
– Hemphill plays alto saxophone on this album.
Live at Kassiopeia (Julius Hemphill and Peter Kowald, NoBusiness Records NBCD 35/36)
– Recorded at Kassiopeia in Wuppertal, Germany, on January 8, 1987.
– Tracks are merely titled “Solo” or “Duo,” though some of Hemphill’s solos are identifiable as his compositions.
– Includes: Georgia Blue; Kansas City Line.
“Long Tongues: A Saxophone Opera” at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, D.C.
– Performance on February 13, 1987, commissioned by District Curators.
– Work-in-progress performance (Act I only) of Long Tongues: A Saxophone Opera.
“Wind and Thunder” at Babson College, Wellesley, MA
– Concert with Bill Cole, Julius Hemphill, Gerald Veasley, and Hafiz Shabazz, on February 27, 1987. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
JAH Band at Weill Hall, New York City
– Concert on March 27, 1987. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
– Compositions performed: Sweet D; At Harmony; Georgia Blue.
Dances and Ballads (World Saxophone Quartet, Nonesuch 79164-1)
– Recorded at RCA Studios, New York City, in April 1987.
– Includes: Sweet D; Cool Red.
“Long Tongues: A Saxophone Opera” at Lincoln Center, New York City
– Work-in-progress performance on July 20, 1987. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
1988
A Lot of Lovin’ (Killing Floor, OSA Records OSA 801)
– Recorded at Crystal Sound, New York City, date unknown.
– Hemphill plays saxophone on “Rock Suite” (Side B of the original LP).
Julius Hemphill Big Band (Elektra Musician 60831-1)
– Recorded at RCA Studios, New York City, on February 21 & 22, 1988. (Session recordings in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
– Includes: At Harmony; Leora; C/Saw; For Billie; Drunk on God; Bordertown.
Before We Were Born (Bill Frisell, Elektra Musician 60843-1)
– Recorded at Power Station, New York City, in September 1988.
– Hemphill is the alto saxophone soloist on “Some Song and Dance.”
Rhythm and Blues (World Saxophone Quartet, Elektra Musician 60864-1)
– Recorded at RCA Studios, New York City, in November 1988.
– Includes: Let’s Get It On; Loopology; Messin’ with the Kid.
Kronos Quartet at Alice Tully Hall, New York City
– Concert on November 26, 1988.
– Composition performed: Mingus Gold.
1989
American Piano Music of Our Time, Vol. 1 (Ursula Oppens, Music & Arts CD-604)
– Recorded at SUNY Purchase, New York, in 1989.
– Includes: Parchment.
At the Moment of Impact… (Allen Lowe, Fairhaven Records 002)
– Recorded in New Haven, CT, between July 20, 1989 and January 24, 1990.
– Hemphill plays alto saxophone on this album.
“Long Tongues: A Saxophone Opera” at Warner Theatre, Washington, D.C.
– World premiere on September 28, 1989.
– Composition performed: Long Tongues: A Saxophone Opera.
Dreamland (Darrell Katz, Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra, Cadence CJR 1053)
– Recorded live at the Emerson Majestic Theatre, Boston, on November 19, 1989.
– Hemphill is the alto saxophone soloist on the Darrell Katz composition “Monk.”
1990
Duos America (Peter Kowald, FMP 1270)
– Recorded in Berlin, Germany, on June 30, 1990.
– Includes: Balances & Cloves.
“Last Supper at Uncle Tom’s Cabin / The Promised Land” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
– Collaboration with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
– World premiere performance November 7, 1990.
– Compositions performed Last Supper at Uncle Tom’s Cabin / The Promised Land.
“Long Tongues: A Saxophone Opera” at the Apollo Theater, New York City
– Performances December 6 & 7, 1990. (Recordings in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
– Composition performed: Long Tongues: A Saxophone Opera.
1991
Fat Man and the Hard Blues (Julius Hemphill Sextet, Black Saint 0115)
– Recorded at Sear Sound, New York City, on July 15 & 16, 1991.
– Includes: Otis’ Groove; Lenny; Floppy; Headlines; Four Saints; Fat Man; Glide; Tendrils; Anchorman; “Untitled”; Three-Step; The Answer; The Hard Blues.
Live from the New Music Cafe (Julius Hemphill Trio, Music & Arts CD-731)
– Recorded at the New Music Cafe, New York City, on September 27, 1991.
– Includes: Sixteen; Testament #5; Fifteen; Dogon A.D.; Georgia Blue; Bordertown; Floppy.
New Tango ’92: After Astor Piazzolla (Or the Second Assassin) (Allen Lane and Orchestra X, Fairhaven Records 3)
– Recorded in New Haven, CT, and at the Knitting Factory, New York City, between November and December 1991. (Session recordings in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
– Hemphill plays alto saxophone on this album.
1992
Ursula Oppens and the Arditti Quartet at Merkin Concert Hall, New York City
– Concert on February 27, 1992. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
– Composition performed: One Atmosphere (For Ursula).
Julius Hemphill Sextet at Willisau Jazz Festival
– Concert in Willisau, Switzerland, on August 27, 1992. (Recording in the Julius Hemphill Papers)
Diminutive Mysteries (Mostly Hemphill) (Tim Berne, JMT 514 003-2)
– Recorded at Power Station, New York City, in September 1992.
– Hemphill wrote several compositions for this collaboration, though he does not perform on the album.
– Includes: Sounds In The Fog; Serial Abstractions; Out, The Regular; The Unknown; Writhing Love Lines; Rites; Mystery To Me.
Oakland Duets (Julius Hemphill and Abdul Wadud, Music & Arts CD-791)
– Recorded at the Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA, on November 13 & 14, 1992.
– Includes: “Me & Wadud, Part I”; C; “Me & Wadud, Part II”; For Billie; “Dream.”
1993
Richmond Symphony and Julius Hemphill Sextet, at Virginia Commonwealth University
– Concert on November 12, 1993.
– Featured arrangements for orchestra of Hemphill compositions by Christopher Bankey and Scott Munson.
– Compositions performed: Plan B; Leora.
Five Chord Stud (Julius Hemphill Sextet, Black Saint 0140)
– Recorded at Sear Sound, New York City, November 18 & 19, 1993.
– Includes: “Band Theme”; Mr. Critical (For Ornette); Shorty; Mirrors; Five Chord Stud; The Moat and the Bridge; Georgia Blue; Flush; Spiritual Chairs (For Bill T. Jones).
1994
“A Bitter Glory” at Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota
– Workshop performance of theater piece on December 7, 1994.
– Composition performed: A Bitter Glory.