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Overlooked host Rob Saffer presents Genii Julii: the music of composer/musicians Julius Hemphill and Julius Eastman. Since both Julii were genii, we’ll limit our palette to two box sets of recordings from New World Records — the just-released "Julius Hemphill (1938-1995): The Boye Multi-National Crusade for Harmony" (2021); and "Julius Eastman: Unjust Malaise" (2005), the record most associated with a renewal of interest in his life and work. Hemphill, best known as an inventive improvising saxophonist and member of the World Saxophone Quartet, is less known as a serious composer and arranger. Conversely, Eastman, relatively unknown during his short, tragic life, is considered a post-minimalist composer and pianist who used elements of structured improvisation in his compositions.

Hemphill Playlist: Dogon A.D.; Air Rings; Malika; Unknown No. 2; Nostalgia in Times Square; and Parchment.
Eastman Playlist: The Holy Presence of Joan D’Arc; and Gay Guerilla.

After the local news at noon, “Overlooked” is a show focusing on overlooked and under-heard jazz, improvisational, and other fringe music, from early roots to contemporary experiments, a mix of familiar to rare, classic to weird.

Host Rob Saffer is the former Executive Director and Producer of the Creative Music Foundation.