Illi-noise.com

>> Saxman Hamiet Bluiett and the e-people

by SCOTT C

As one of the huge baritone-sax talents to thrive during the creative evolution of jazz in the '70s, Hamiet Blueitt continues to redefine his own versatility as a musician. Bluiett has played with Lester and Joseph Bowie, Charles Mingus, and Abdullah Ibrahim--to name only a few. A frequent visitor to Montreal, Bluiett will be joining pianist Dee Dee Jackson and Chicago percussionist Kahil El'Zabar for a gig at Upstairs. I spoke to Bluiett on the phone from New York.

Mirror: I understand you're going through some changes in your band.

Hamiet Bluiett: Yeah. We're using Kahil El'Zabar. He plays a variety of percussion instruments, but he also plays trap drums in that Chicago style. He understands that more open way of playing.

M: Are you getting something from Kahil that you weren't getting from your old percussionist Moir Thaim?

HB: Now wait a minute! I never said nothing like that! We brought Kahil in because Moir wanted to do some other things. It's just changes you make along the way.

M: I wasn't looking for no beef between musicians or anything--

HB: You just have to change up what you do all the time to keep it interesting for yourself and the people who are listening.

M: Are the three of you bringing three different things to the table?

HB: Well, Kahil's from Chicago and I'm from Illinois. Dee Dee is from Ottawa so we all bringin' whatever it takes. We draw upon where we are and what's goin' on at the time. Like next week we goin' to Ottawa, then Sarajevo, then Montreal--

M: You're going to Sarajevo for the weekend?

HB: Yeah, and the way we're feeling when we get back is how we'll play when you see us in Montreal.

M: Are you seeing changes in the audiences that are coming out to see you these days?

HB: Well, we get a lot of these e-people--

M: You mean Internet people.

HB: Yeah. All them e-mail folks and people who are on there every day. A lot more of them are checking us out and they're a little more open-minded.

M: Do you deal with the e-mail people?

HB: Hell, no! I don't do that.

M: You don't use the computer?

HB: I don't have time.

M: You're too busy playing music.

MB: Well, you can't do everything, right?

At Upstairs on Thursday, Oct. 26, 9pm, $20