The word virtuoso comes to mind and quickly falls short of the mark in characterizing the ineffable totality of the World Saxophone Quartet. Its latest offering captures the magic of a March 1, 1999, performance at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. John Purcell, on soprano and clarinet, has brought stability and a creative spark to the chair vacated by Julius Hemphill a decade ago; Oliver Lake on alto, David Murray on tenor sax and bass clarinet and Bluiett on baritone remain, and they are in fine form.
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