Fat Man and the Hard Blues is an album by jazz saxophonist Julius Hemphill recorded in 1991 for the Italian Black Saint label.

[1] The editors of AllMusic awarded the album 5 stars, and reviewer Scott Yanow stated: "These miniatures (all under seven minutes) are most notable for their fresh melodies, logical arrangements, and spirited ensembles".

[2] The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings called the album "both an intelligent continuation of the last decade's work and a challenging new departure.

"[4] All compositions by Julius Hemphill