Search - Anthony Braxton :: News From the 70's

Where to start with Mr. Braxton?

greg taylor | Portland, Oregon United States | 05/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This compilation of recordings from 1972 to 1976 by Francesco Martinelli is an excellent starting point for orienting yourself within Braxton's discography.
Composition 23E features Braxton's quartet with Kenny Wheeler on the flugelhorn, Dave Holland on the bass and Barry Altschul on drums. Braxton's solo is one of his best, a dizzying dance that should be accessible to anyone who loves post-bop jazz.
Composition 8C is a beautifully melodic alto solo that shows off Braxton's tone. I think a lot of the negative reaction that people have to Braxton's music has to do with the way he plays with the tone of the saxophone. His great early solo album, For Alto, was the result of his investigations into the basic grammer of what he calls his "saxophone languages". For example, some of his pieces might be improvisations on the buzzing tone that the saxophone can produce. The fact that these efforts to exploit the full potential of the horn lead him away from traditional ideas on tone should not obscure the fact that he can play that way when he chooses. His playing on this composition is proof of that.
The third piece, Composition -1, dates from the great Town Hall concert that Braxton gave in 1972. It is a duet between him on clarinet with Dave Holland on the cello. Need I say more?
Compositon -2 is a recording of Braxton and Wheeler playing with French composer Antoine Duhamel on the piano and Francois Mechali on the bass. Duhamel playing on this piece is very intersting. I don't know of any other published recordings of this particular quartet.
Composition 8G is the other alto solo. It is more out there then the 8C solo as it features Braxton exploring various different ways to articulate the notes. Still it strikes me as very accessible to anyone with open ears. If you find you like the solo pieces then, by all means, go on to For Alto or Wesleyan (12 Alto Solos) or Solo (Koln)1978. Anthony Braxton's contributions to the emerging tradition of solo recordings by any and all horn types cannot be overstated. He started it, he inspired legions of others to do it and he continues to expand the possibilities.
The last piece, Four Winds, is by Dave Holland and was one of the highlights of Holland's Conference of the Birds (another great intro for anybody curious about free jazz or out jazz or whatever you want to call it). This time the quartet of Braxton, Holland and Altschul is filled out by George Lewis on the trombone. Lewis is among the finest of the sidemen that ever worked with Braxton. These guys tear into this song and solo with wit, passion and every bit of skill they possess. If you like this quartet, I suggest you also try Quintet (Basel) 1977 where they are also joined by Muhal Richard Abrams.
Finally, a note on the sound- it is not of the best studio quality as these recordings were all done live and probably not with the best equipment. But it is good enough to enjoy the great burst of creative genius that Braxton was at the time.
Give this CD a listen. No one has done more to break down all the false hierarchies of music theory or performance in the last forty years in any genre of music than Anthony Braxton. If you want just one CD to put that statement to your own personal test, this one is as good as any."