Fat Man and the Hard Blues

Fat Man and the Hard Blues is an album by jazz saxophonist Julius Hemphill recorded in 1991 for the Italian Black Saint label.^[1]

Fat Man and the Hard Blues
Studio album by Julius Hemphill
Released	1991
Recorded	July 15 & 16, 1991
Genre	Jazz
Length	55:09
Label	Black Saint
Producer	Julius Hemphill
Julius Hemphill chronology
Julius Hemphill Big Band (1988) Fat Man and the Hard Blues (1991) Live from the New Music Cafe (1992)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[4]
The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide	[5]

The editors of AllMusic awarded the album 5 stars, and reviewer Scott Yanow stated: "These miniatures (all under seven minutes) are most notable for their fresh melodies, logical arrangements, and spirited ensembles".^[2]

The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings called the album "both an intelligent continuation of the last decade's work and a challenging new departure."^[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Julius Hemphill

1. "Otis' Groove" - 3:00
2. "Lenny" - 2:33
3. "Floppy" - 2:50
4. "Opening" - 4:07
5. "Headlines" - 2:59
6. "Four Saints" - 2:45
7. "Fat Man" - 5:16
8. "Glide" - 4:32
9. "Tendrils" - 6:18
10. "Anchorman" - 4:41
11. "Untitled" - 5:10
12. "Three-Step" - 2:00
13. "The Answer" - 2:18
14. "The Hard Blues" - 6:40

• Recorded at Sear Sound in New York City on June 15 & 16, 1991

Personnel

• Julius Hemphill - alto saxophone
• Marty Ehrlich - soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, flute
• Carl Grubbs - soprano saxophone, alto saxophone
• James Carter - tenor saxophone
• Andrew White - tenor saxophone
• Sam Furnace - baritone saxophone, flute