Search - Anthony Braxton :: Quartet (Moscow) 2008

The Psychic Shroud of Gruppe Interaction

Jim Marlowe | Kentucky, USA | 09/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording from Moscow in 2008 has Braxton et al. powering through an intense and focused 70+ minutes (with 3 minute encore!). This is a little bit different than some of the more recent Braxton releases (and most of the older ones that are currently available) in that the group interaction is a little more diffuse than usual. Long time companions Mary Halvorson and Taylor Ho Bynum are fantastic and are clearly used to one another's playing. Mary Halvoron's one of the few (to me) truly inspiring guitarists out there right now (Her trio record "Dragon's Head" was one of the highlights of the year) and she works exceptionally well in this small group setting. The real surprise here is the bassoonist Katherine Young in this unusual quartet [Anthony Braxton (sss, ss, as, bar, b-sx, Eb-contralto-cl, elec), Taylor Ho Bynum (cor, bugle, trumpbone, pic-tpt, b-tpt, mutes, shells), Mary Halvorson (el-g), Katherine Young (bsn) date info taken from Restructures.net]. Her bassoon has a tendency to lay pretty low in the mix, bubbling up and and at times providing an odd low end bass cloud from which the others spray their notes into and out of. Braxton wrote his own computer program that provides a strange feedback-like shroud of chandelier haze at some of the more quiet moments. Even amongst Braxton's recorded works of unique compositions, this stands out. Definitely recommended."

Seriously, how does he do this?

J. GARRATT | 06/07/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is something oddly cinematic and moody about Anthony Braxton's Moscow composition "367B." Unlikely textures are created with bassoon, guitar, trumpet, and saxophone and give it a bizarre shading I didn't think was possible prior to hearing this. And when you begin to play it, you're in it for the long haul: one hour, ten minutes, eleven seconds. And then an encore after that!



I just wish that Braxton would have used Mary Halvorson in a more strange way. Her playing here is pretty good, but I think weirder sounds would have gone a long way with the guitar parts. But is the overall thing worth it? Yes. Braxton has been at this a long time. Give him pen and staff paper, tell him to create mood and texture with just these four instruments, and he does it!"