''Yes We Can'' is a live album by the jazz group the

World Saxophone Quartet The World Saxophone Quartet is an American jazz ensemble founded in 1977, incorporating elements of free jazz, R&B, funk and South African jazz into their music. The original members were Julius Hemphill (alto and soprano saxophone, flute), ...

. It features

Hamiet Bluiett Hamiet Bluiett (; September 16, 1940 – October 4, 2018) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His primary instrument was the baritone saxophone, and he was considered one of the finest players of this instrument. A membe ...

on baritone saxophone, James Carter on soprano and tenor saxophones,

Kidd Jordan Edward "Kidd" Jordan (born May 5, 1935) is an American jazz saxophonist and music educator from New Orleans, Louisiana. After completing a music degree at Southern University in Baton Rouge, he relocated to New Orleans. He taught at Southern Uni ...

on alto saxophone, and David Murray on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet. The album was recorded on March 28, 2009, at

Kino Babylon The Kino Babylon is a cinema in the Mitte neighbourhood of Berlin and part of a listed building complex at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz opposite the Volksbühne theatre. The building was erected 1928–29. It was designed by the architect Hans Poelzig i ...

in Berlin, and was released in 2010 by Jazzwerkstatt.

Reception

In a review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, William Ruhlmann wrote: "Bluiett holds down the rhythm and the bottom, allowing fellow founding member David Murray and his compatriots to take off... Like competing ghosts of John Coltrane, they sometimes achieve near cacophony in spots, occasionally seeming to imitate the sound of a herd of angry elephants... World Saxophone Quartet is always a challenging listen... but the results can be exhilarating, and they seem to be to the enthusiastic audience that whoops and hollers at this show." Bill Milkowski, writing for ''

Jazz Times ''JazzTimes'' is an American magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store. Coverage After a decade of growth ...

'', stated: "In this two-tenor onslaught, Murray and Carter can hardly be distinguished, especially when they launch into simultaneous altissimo flights... Murray's title track, recorded just two months after President Obama's inauguration, is a soulful fanfare brimming with optimism that highlights Carter's uncanny virtuosity on soprano." In a review for the ''

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England, the paper is owned by a Japanese holding company, Nik ...

'', Mike Hobart called the recording a "blast of optimism," and commented: "New recruit James Carter matches founder-member David Murray's energy and agility, and the hell-for-leather free-for-alls are balanced by languorous harmonies." ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

John Fordham John Fordham (died 1425) was Bishop of Durham and Bishop of Ely. Fordham was keeper of the privy seal of Prince Richard from 1376 to 1377 and Dean of Wells before being named Lord Privy Seal in June 1377. He held that office until December 1381. ...

remarked: "Post-Coltrane free jazz, elegant Ellingtonian four-part harmonies and the powerful personalities of the four members... make it a highly varied set... ''Yes We Can'' represents the WSQ in exuberantly incandescent mood." Will Layman, in an article for ''

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...

'', wrote: "''Yes We Can'' is proof that the band remains utterly solid, even with two players who are essentially new to things. It's an endorsement not merely of the group, but also of the idea of the group that this concert seems like the quartet at its very best. Here is the World Saxophone Quartet again, embracing old verities but sounding fresh because in fact there is new blood in the veins." In a review for ''

Stereophile ''Stereophile'' is a monthly American audiophile magazine which reviews high-end audio equipment, such as loudspeakers and amplifiers, and audio-related news. History Founded in 1962 by J. Gordon Holt. ''Stereophile'' is the highest-circulation ...

'', Fred Kaplan stated: "''Yes We Can'' is the most jolting, swinging, all-round best album by the World Saxophone Quartet in nearly 20 years."

Track listing

# "Hattie Wall" (Bluiett) – 10:54 # "The River Niger" (Jordan) – 9:06 # "Yes We Can" (Murray) – 9:36 # "The God of Pain" (Murray) – 6:19 # "The Angel of Pain" (Murray) – 7:48 # "The Guessing Game" (Bluiett) – 11:10 # "Long March to Freedom" (Murray) – 9:00 # "Hattie Wall (Reprise)" (Bluiett) – 4:32

Personnel

– baritone saxophone * James Carter – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone *

– alto saxophone * David Murray – tenor saxophone, bass clarinet

References

{{Reflist 2010 live albums World Saxophone Quartet live albums