An original member of the legendary Black Artists Group (St. Louis' counterpart to the AACM), and founder of the World Sax Quartet, Julius Hemphill was one of the most important composer/performers in creative music. His work is marked by a sharp, edgy melodicism steeped in the blues, contrapuntal complexity and a striking formal logic. One Atmosphere presents the full range of his compositional talents: a long, epic work for seven woodwinds (one of his greatest compositions, here receiving its premiere recording); a beautiful quintet for piano and strings; and a bluesy tune originally written for his famous trio with Abdul Wadud, here featuring the versatile cellist Erik Friedlander and two of his closest collaborators, Marty Ehrlich and Pheeroan AkLaff.
