Hamiet Bluiett Photo from Roberto’s Winds website

Peter Bacon reports:

Baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett died yesterday morning, 4 October, after a long illness. His grand daughter Anaya had previously raised funds towards his recovery via Fundraiser, explaining that he been hospitalised following numerous strokes and seizures.

Hamiet Bluiett, born in East St. Louis, Brooklyn, Illinois, on 16 September 1940, played in the U.S. Navy band and then with Charles Mingus, Sam Rivers and many others in the late 1960s and early ‘70s. But it is as co-founder and long-time member of the World Saxophone Quartet that he will best be remembered.

Fellow WSQ member Tony Kofi paid tribute via social media to: “one of the world’s greatest baritone saxophonists. My teacher, my friend, my mentor. You treated my like a son and always looked after me on the road. I will miss you dearly, thank you for your musical guidance. Safe travels.”

LINK: Jazz writer Dean Minderman posted an obituary on St Louis Jazz Notes