The Boyé Multi-National Crusade for Harmony

This seven-disc box is a massive and revelatory addition to the Hemphill discography, and to our understanding of his work. It includes several discs’ worth of raucous, hard-charging live recordings by different bands, some including fellow BAG members like trumpeter Baikida Carroll and poets Malinké Elliott and K. Curtis Lyle; a full hour of duos with his longtime creative foil, cellist Abdul Wadud; a disc of solo saxophone and poetry; and a collection of his chamber music compositions (and interpretations of three Charles Mingus pieces), performed by a string quartet, a brass and reed ensemble, and pianist Ursula Oppens. The last disc in the box is particularly ferocious, featuring a quartet that included Hemphill, Carroll, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Taken all together, it’s a multidimensional portrait of a true American genius.