Diminutive Mysteries (Mostly Hemphill) is an album by saxophonist Tim Berne which was recorded in 1992 and released on the JMT label.[1][2] The album is a tribute to Berne's mentor Julius Hemphill. Alongside Berne's regular band is featured guest David Sanborn, in an outlier among his more mainstream R&B work.

Diminutive Mysteries (Mostly Hemphill)
Studio album by Tim Berne
Released	1993
Recorded	September 1992
Venue	The Power Station, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	65:37
Label	JMT JMT 514 003
Producer	Stefan F. Winter
Tim Berne chronology
I Can't Put My Finger on It (1991) Diminutive Mysteries (Mostly Hemphill) (1993) Nice View (1994)

Reception

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow said it was "This is certainly the most unusual David Sanborn recording to date. Avant-gardist Tim Berne (heard here on alto and baritone) and the popular R&B star Sanborn (mostly leaving his trademark alto behind to play sopranino) share a great respect for altoist Julius Hemphill and the St. Louis free jazz movement... they perform seven often-emotional Hemphill pieces plus Berne's "The Maze." Sanborn is to be congratulated for successfully stretching himself although this is very much Berne's date".[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Julius Hemphill except as indicated

1. "Sounds in the Fog" – 8:12
2. "Serial Abstractions" – 6:27
3. "Out, The Regular" – 5:54
4. "The Unknown" – 6:50
5. "Writhing Love Lines" – 7:20
6. "Rites" – 3:32
7. "The Maze (For Julius)" (Tim Berne) – 21:23
8. "Mystery to Me" – 6:30

Personnel

• Tim Berne – alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
• David Sanborn – sopranino saxophone, alto saxophone
• Marc Ducret – electric guitar
• Hank Roberts – cello
• Joey Baron – drums
• Herb Robertson – trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn (track 7)
• Mark Dresser – bass (track 7)

References