Anthony Braxton - Eugene (1989)

Anthony Braxton - Eugene (1989)
jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 410MB

Black Saint

Allmusic:
The innovative alto-saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton leads the Northwest Creative Orchestra (a 16-piece big band) through eight of his compositions on this CD. Few of the sidemen have yet gained more than a local reputation (trumpeter Rob Blakeslee is the biggest "name"), but they perform the complex music quite well, although it would have been nice if the liner notes had identified the soloists and listed what reeds the saxophonists play. A stimulating set of avant-garde music.

Tracks
-1. "Composition No. 112" - 10:03
-2. "Composition No. 91" - 9:53
-3. "Composition No. 134" - 10:49
-4. "Composition No. 100" - 8:48
-5. "Composition No. 93" - 8:26
-6. "Composition No. 45" - 12:55
-7. "Composition No. 71" - 10:32
-8. "Composition No. 59" - 8:01
All compositions by Anthony Braxton
Recorded at Beall Hall at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon on January 31, l989

Personnel
* Anthony Braxton - alto saxophone, conductor
The Northwest Creative Orchestra:
* Rob Blakeslee, John Jensen, Ernie Carbajal - trumpet
* Ed Kammerer, Tom Hill, Mike Heffley - trombone
* Thom Bergeron, Jeff Homan, Carl Woideck, Mike Curtis - reeds
* Mike Vannice - reeds, piano
* Todd Barton -synthesizer
* Joe Robinson - guitar
* Forrest Moyer - bass
* Tom Kelly -percussion
* Charles Down - percussion, vibrophone

sample & buy: A Braxton - Eugene

Anthony Braxton - 3 Compositions of New Jazz (1968) (eac-log-cover)

Anthony Braxton - 3 Compositions of New Jazz (1968)

jazz, avantgarde | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 230MB

Delmark

Allmusic:
While it is not as powerful or as revelatory as For Alto, Anthony Braxton's second album for Delmark, 3 Compositions of New Jazz is his debut as a leader and showcases just how visionary -- or out to lunch depending on your point of view -- he was from the very beginning. Recorded nine months after his debut with Muhal Richard Abrams on Levels and Degrees of Light, Braxton's compositional methodology and his sense of creating a band are in full flower. For one thing, there is no use of a traditional rhythm section, though drums and a piano are used. The band is comprised of Leroy Jenkins on violin and percussion, Braxton on everything from alto to accordion to mixer, Leo Smith on trumpet and bottles, and Abrams on piano (and alto clarinet on one track). All but one track -- "The Bell" -- are graphically titled, so there's no use mentioning titles because computers don't draw in the same way. There is a sonorous unity on all of these compositions, which Braxton would draw away from later. His use of Stockhausen is evident here, and he borrows heavily from the melodic precepts of Ornette Coleman. The use of Jenkins' violin as a melodic and lyric device frees the brass from following any kind of preset notion about what should be done. Abrams plays the piano like a percussion -- not a rhythm -- instrument, and colors the textural figures in, while Smith plays all around the open space trying hard not to fill it. This is a long and tough listen, but it's a light one in comparison to For Alto. And make no mistake: It is outrageously forward-thinking, if not -- arguably -- downright visionary. Braxton's 3 Compositions of New Jazz is an essential document of the beginning of the end.

Tracks
1. "(840m)-Realize-44M-44M" 20:03*

comp 6 E

2. "N-M488-44M-Z" 12:57*

comp 6 D

3. "The Bell" (Leo Smith) 10:31
*These first two tracks are graphically titled. This is an attempt to translate the title.
* All songs written and composed by Anthony Braxton, except where noted.
* Recorded at Sound Studios, Chicago, IL on March 27 (track 1) and April 10 (tracks 2 & 3), 1968

Personnel
* Anthony Braxton: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute, oboe musette, accordion, bells, snare drum, mixer
* Leroy Jenkins: violin, viola, harmonica, bass drum, recorder, cymbals, slide whistle
* Wadada Leo Smith: trumpet, mellophone, xylophone, kazoo
* Muhal Richard Abrams: piano (track 2 & 3), cello, alto clarinet (track 3)

sample & buy: 3 Compositions of New Jazz