Anthony Braxton

[papsrus]

Has Braxton done a duet with a guitarist?

In addition to the aforementioned meetings with Bailey & Shiurba, there's a recording with Fred Frith, Duo (Victoriaville) 2005 (Victo).

Also, as I recall, there's a duo album with James Emery that has never been released (not sure why); you can otherwise hear some terrific Emery with Braxton on the 1980 trio recording, Composition No. 94 (Leo/Golden Years of New Jazz). There's a photo of Emery playing with Braxton here (scroll down half way).

Very nice. Thank you!

[B. Clugston]

Has Braxton done a duet with a guitarist?

In addition to the aforementioned meetings with Bailey & Shiurba, there's a recording with Fred Frith, Duo (Victoriaville) 2005 (Victo).

Also, as I recall, there's a duo album with James Emery that has never been released (not sure why); you can otherwise hear some terrific Emery with Braxton on the 1980 trio recording, Composition No. 94 (Leo/Golden Years of New Jazz). There's a photo of Emery playing with Braxton here (scroll down half way).

The disc with Emery was to be called Articulations (Duo) 1992 and was supposed to be released by Diapason. Tried contacting the label a few years ago, but no reply. Too bad, because Braxton and Emery are magical whenever they get together.

[7/4]

from the Yahoo Braxton list:

Jason Guthartz writes in thread

40 years ago today...

:

The trio of Anthony Braxton, Leroy Jenkins & Leo Smith went into a studio in Chicago,

under the supervision of Chuck Nessa (super vision indeed!),

and created the first recording of a Braxton composition ("Comp. 6E"), issued on "3 Compositions of New Jazz" (Delmark). (that is, assuming "For Alto" was in fact recorded in 1969, or if in 1968, not before this session)

Franz Fuchs writes:

And it was 20 years ago - - not quite today, I assume, but I don't know the exact date -- that Graham Lock's "Forces In Motion" was released, probably the seminal text on Braxton. Wherever you place Lock in relation to the

other Braxton books (and they all have their respective strenghts), "Forces In Motion" is a great achievement which has done a lot to spread the word about Braxton's work. It's worthwhile reading not only for the things you

learn about Braxton but also rewards close study by aspiring journalists.

[papsrus]

from the Yahoo Braxton list:

Jason Guthartz writes in thread

40 years ago today...

:

The trio of Anthony Braxton, Leroy Jenkins & Leo Smith went into a studio in Chicago,

under the supervision of Chuck Nessa (super vision indeed!),

and created the first recording of a Braxton composition ("Comp. 6E"), issued on "3 Compositions of New Jazz" (Delmark). (that is, assuming "For Alto" was in fact recorded in 1969, or if in 1968, not before this session)

Franz Fuchs writes:

And it was 20 years ago - - not quite today, I assume, but I don't know the exact date -- that Graham Lock's "Forces In Motion" was released, probably the seminal text on Braxton. Wherever you place Lock in relation to the

other Braxton books (and they all have their respective strenghts), "Forces In Motion" is a great achievement which has done a lot to spread the word about Braxton's work. It's worthwhile reading not only for the things you

learn about Braxton but also rewards close study by aspiring journalists.

Very nice. I read "Forces in Motion" while soaking in the recordings from the 85 tour and it really opened up Braxton's music for me. Still scratching the surface in many ways, of course, but have been lucky enough to gather together a fistful of his most notable efforts (not the Nessa-supervised session, however), including Dortmund, Montreux/Berlin, For Alto, the great Iridium box and an additional smattering of GTM stuff. Braxton almost never disappoints -- (the standards stuff I quite enjoy, even though it suffers from criticisms that Braxton can't manage it. I'm not convinced that's a correct judgment in any event.) ... The Crispell, Hemingway, Dresser tour remains a favorite.

[WD45]

Important Records is releasing a 4cd box of 4 GTM compositions. Only $23.99. More info here: Braxton

[GregK]

Important Records is releasing a 4cd box of 4 GTM compositions. Only $23.99. More info here: Braxton

yeah, when is this actually being released though? I've been waiting for my pre-order for over a week past the alleged release date, and still nothing.

[Chuck Nessa]

Mine's on the way!

Rod is a special customer.

[7/4]

The Triaxium Writings and the Composition Notes should be pretty interesting.

[GregK]

The Triaxium Writings and the Composition Notes should be pretty interesting.

I can't get through a set of his liner notes without Tylenol. There are some that I still don't understand after reading them many, many times.

[7/4]

The Triaxium Writings and the Composition Notes should be pretty interesting.

I can't get through a set of his liner notes without Tylenol. There are some that I still don't understand after reading them many, many times.

I think that by the time I could afford them, I bought guitars instead. Also, Forces In Motion was plenty inspiration.

[stuartjewkes]

I would dearly love to have a go at reading some of his writings but I fear total incomprehension and an impending sense of money waste.

I think I'll get Forces In Motion shortly as i like a bit of reading material on this sort of maverik.

Back to the music, I've been listening to the 6 Compositions (GTM) 2001 box and I've been getting quite a lot from the pared down performances. The Iridium is better composition wise in my opinion but sometimes the mass of players can obscure the intentions. Here everything is up front and visible and quite fascinating. I've not got to grips with the long composition over 2 cds yet, find it quite difficult to apply myself to something so singular over such a period that isn't of the ambient/noise variety that you can fade in/out of.

I have been neglecting ole Brax though in favour of more mild music with an aim to improve my own playing. As much as I enjoy parping along to a Braxton date I feel most of it flying obscenely over my head.

[papsrus]

I would dearly love to have a go at reading some of his writings but I fear total incomprehension and an impending sense of money waste.

I think I'll get Forces In Motion shortly as i like a bit of reading material on this sort of maverik.

Back to the music, I've been listening to the 6 Compositions (GTM) 2001 box and I've been getting quite a lot from the pared down performances. The Iridium is better composition wise in my opinion but sometimes the mass of players can obscure the intentions. Here everything is up front and visible and quite fascinating. I've not got to grips with the long composition over 2 cds yet, find it quite difficult to apply myself to something so singular over such a period that isn't of the ambient/noise variety that you can fade in/out of.

I have been neglecting ole Brax though in favour of more mild music with an aim to improve my own playing. As much as I enjoy parping along to a Braxton date I feel most of it flying obscenely over my head.

Forces in Motion is very readable.

[7/4]

I thought so too.

There's been a bunch of Down Beat articles/interviews over the years with Braxton that also make for interesting reading.

.

[stuartjewkes]

This month I got Trio & Duet (1974 I think?) from eMusic and it is frankly superb. The second 'side' is my first experience of Dave Holland and it's a joy.

[7/4]

Upcoming release on Tzadik:

- Braxton, Graves, Parker: Beyond Quantum [#7626]

Anthony Braxton, Milford Graves and William Parker are quite literally three of the most

important virtuoso instrumentalists in new music, each a vivid

conceptualist as well an influential composer/performer. This

intense improvisational outing features them at their best: excited,

inspired and in complete communication. Recorded and mixed by musical

alchemist Bill Laswell, sparks fly in this important and historic

meeting of creative music masters.

looks interesting...

[7/4]

This month I got Trio & Duet (1974 I think?) from eMusic and it is frankly superb. The second 'side' is my first experience of Dave Holland and it's a joy.

Oh boy...you gonna dig the Mosaic Braxton Arista box!

There's also some live recordings from that era of Braxton with Holland that are well worth checking out.

Edited August 4, 2008 by 7/4

[stuartjewkes]

Can't wait for that bad boy! I don't own a Mosaic as I've never had enough cash to splash out £80 for 6 cds but in this case I will make an exception.

This month I got Trio & Duet (1974 I think?) from eMusic and it is frankly superb. The second 'side' is my first experience of Dave Holland and it's a joy.

Oh boy...you gonna dig the Mosaic Braxton Arista box!

There's also some live recordings from that era of Braxton with Holland that are well worth checking out.

[7/4]

Can't wait for that bad boy! I don't own a Mosaic as I've never had enough cash to splash out £80 for 6 cds but in this case I will make an exception.

Braxton Arista and Freedom set on Mosaic?

Upcoming Mosaic sets, August - November 2008: Peterson, Braxton, Goodman, Akiyoshi/Tabackin sets

[7/4]

Anthony Braxton - 20 Standards (Quartet) 2003

Anthony Braxton - 23 Standards (Quartet) 2003

Anthony Braxton - 8 Standards (Wesleyan) 2001

I've been listening to these lately and checking out the guitar playing of Kevin O'Neil. Quite nimble.

[papsrus]

Anthony Braxton - 20 Standards (Quartet) 2003

Anthony Braxton - 23 Standards (Quartet) 2003

Anthony Braxton - 8 Standards (Wesleyan) 2001

I've been listening to these lately and checking out the guitar playing of Kevin O'Neil. Quite nimble.

You're quite right about O'Neil. I have always enjoyed the 20 and 23 Standards sets. -- I haven't heard the 8 Standards (Wesleyan). But the two "standards" titles that I really love are Braxton's "Charlie Parker Project" (not universally admired, or so I've read) and "A Memory of Vienna" with Ran Blake, which I acquired earlier this year. I've never heard Braxton so lyrical as he is on the Vienna disc. The version of 'Round Midnight is gorgeous. And despite some criticisms of sloppiness on the Parker Project (criticisms which I'm not convinced are on the mark) I find the music riveting and perhaps more focused. Dealing with a single artist rather than a range of artists has something to do with that. And it may be more on the listening end than the execution end, I'll admit. But I love both of those, and put them right up there with the best of his output overall. (Dortmund, Montreux/Berlin, the Crispell-Hemingway-Dresser quartet, Iridium, to name a few of my faves).

[GregK]

. And it may be more on the listening end than the execution end, I'll admit. But I love both of those, and put them right up there with the best of his output overall. (Dortmund, Montreux/Berlin, the Crispell-Hemingway-Dresser quartet, Iridium, to name a few of my faves).

I'm still trying to comprehend that Iridium set. I've only really listened to the first half of it (about 5 CDs). I love the wide variety of instruments but it is hard to digest even one disc at a time.

[papsrus]

. And it may be more on the listening end than the execution end, I'll admit. But I love both of those, and put them right up there with the best of his output overall. (Dortmund, Montreux/Berlin, the Crispell-Hemingway-Dresser quartet, Iridium, to name a few of my faves).

I'm still trying to comprehend that Iridium set. I've only really listened to the first half of it (about 5 CDs). I love the wide variety of instruments but it is hard to digest even one disc at a time.

It is ... and I know what you mean. One of the main things I take away from those live sets is a sense of pure joy emanating from the musicians. That's not always the case with Braxton's music for me. I get a very positive vibe from the Iridium box. I have more of an emotional response to it than is often the case with his music.

Edited August 5, 2008 by papsrus

[Nate Dorward]

The Charlie Parker Project is one of Braxton's more interesting standards projects, yes, though it's a bit chaotic. -- On the other hand those 23 and 20 standards volumes just go on & on & on & on, and while O'Neil's great some of the playing is unbelievably careless (like, they just opened the fakebook & winged it--listen to the hash they make of some of the Brubeck tunes) & Braxton's really having trouble with the soprano & sopranino.

I look forward to the Arista box--somehow my copies of several of the LPs & CDs have vanished, including the 2LP solo album & the live date from Montreaux.

[Chalupa]

Upcoming shows in Philly!!

Friday, October 10 | 8pm

Anthony Braxton Falling River Quartet

with

Anthony Braxton, alto/soprano/ sopranino saxophone + contrabass clarinet

Erica Dicker, violin

Sally Norris, piano

Katherine Young, bassoon

Settlement Music School

416 Queen Street

$35 General Admission

All ticket holders will receive free admission to the October 11 brass

music concert

Saturday, October 11 | 8pm

Composition 103 (for Seven Trumpets)

with

Taylor Ho Bynum, Tim Byrnes, Forbes Graham, Sam Hoyt, John McDonough,

Nicole Rampersaud, Nate Wooley, trumpet

Composition 169 (for Brass Quintet)

with

Taylor Ho Bynum, trumpet

Nate Wooley, trumpet

Mark Taylor, French horn

Reut Regev, trombone

Jay Rozen, tuba

Anthony Braxton, conductor

St. Mark's Church

1525 Locust Street

$10 General Admission

More info at:

http://arsnovaworkshop.com/

[7/4]

Anthony Braxton Fans are So Full of Shit

Really now...

.