Biographical Note

Julius Hemphill (1938-1995) was a jazz composer and saxophone player who helped found the World Saxophone Quartet. Hemphill was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and served in the United States Army for several years beginning in 1964. He began playing the clarinet, studying under John Carter, before learning saxophone. Hemphill later moved to St. Louis, Missouri and co-founded the Black Artists' Group (BAG) arts collective. He moved to New York City in the 1970s and became an active member of the city's jazz community, performing, recording, and teaching other musicians. He was a founder of the World Saxophone Quartet, the Julius Hemphill Quartet, and the Julius Hemphill Sextet. Hemphill's compositions and arrangements are noted for their combination of jazz, blues, and big-band sound.