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The Hemphill String Stringtet: The Hemphill Stringtet Plays the Music of Julius Hemphill

By Glenn Astarita
April 27, 2025
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Track review of "My First Winter/Touchic"

The Hemphill Stringtet's debut album, Plays the Music of

Julius Hemphill

saxophone, alto
1938 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Julius Hemphill is a vibrant tribute to the late jazz composer and saxophonist Julius Hemphill (1938—1995). This string quartet, featuring violinists

Curtis Stewart

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Curtis Stewart and

Sam Bardfeld

violin
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Sam Bardfeld, violist

Stephanie Griffin

viola

" data-original-title="" title="">Stephanie Griffin and cellist

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomeka Reid, reimagines Hemphill's compositions with a fresh chamber music perspective. Formed in 2022, the ensemble aims to amplify Hemphill's legacy as a pivotal Black American composer while infusing his blues-inflected jazz with improvisational flair rooted in African American traditions. The two-part track "My First Winter/Touchic," a medley of two pieces, exemplifies this mission, blending lyrical tenderness with dynamic grooves.

"My First Winter/Touchic" opens with the hauntingly beautiful "My First Winter," where Stewart's violin delivers a loose, emotive melody that evokes the chill and introspection of a first snowfall. The quartet's interplay is delicate yet purposeful, with Reid's cello anchoring the texture with delicate, plucked notes that nod to Hemphill's collaborator

Abdul Wadud

cello
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Abdul Wadud. As the track transitions into a freer, improvised bridge, Bardfeld's violin solo emerges, weaving bluesy phrases with a virtuosic edge that feels both rooted and exploratory, segueing into a free-form breakout. The shift into "Touchic" is smooth yet electrifying, as the ensemble locks into a hard-grooving odd-meter ostinato. Griffin's solo here is a standout, dancing atop the rhythmic pulse with an

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman-like balance of freedom and fidelity to the bass line. Her lyrical improvisation, set against wispy harmonics and Reid's steady cello, captures Hemphill's knack for fusing structure with spontaneity.

The medley's strength lies in its ability to honor Hemphill's compositional voice while highlighting Stringtet's improvisational prowess. The transition from the achingly tender "My First Winter" to the lively, "Touchic" mirrors the emotional range of Hemphill's work, from introspective to boisterous. Hence, this is a testament to Hemphill's enduring relevance and Stringtet's bold vision, making it an entrancing centerpiece of this momentous endeavor.

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Track Listing

Revue; Mingus Gold: Nostalgia in Times Square; Mingus Gold: Alice in Wonderland; Mingus Gold: Better Get Hit in Your Soul; My First Winter/Touchic; Choo Choo.

Personnel

Curtis Stewart

violin

Sam Bardfeld

violin

Stephanie Griffin

viola

Tomeka Reid

cello

Album information

Title: The Hemphill Stringtet Plays the Music of Julius Hemphill | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Out Of Your Head Records

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