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Anthony Braxton

”Six Duets (1982)” by Anthony Braxton featuring John Lindberg

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”Six Duets (1982)” by Anthony Braxton featuring John Lindberg

Duo bliss.

Wonderful duo album with Braxton playing alto sax, E-flat sopranino sax and clarinet. He is joined by double bassist John Lindberg. This session was recorded in Florence, Italy in 1982. 

The music is natural, organic and highlights the featured instruments in a very detailed and focused way. Quite meditative and calming in places. The musicianship is outstanding, and both musicians performs on an equal level, both in terms of exposure and skill. A superb interplay is present between the two throughout.

I’ve come to love the duo format and this album is just another example of the format’s great potential.

I would imagine that this title isn’t on the radar of many collectors, but it’s a fantastic display of jazz mastery from two virtuosos that you don’t wanna miss. It’s a quite affordable album as well, so I would put this in the cheap heat category.

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”Dona Lee” by Anthony Braxton on America AM 6122

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”Dona Lee” by Anthony Braxton on America AM 6122

Braxton doesn’t disappoint.

Braxton recording from 1972, recorded at Studio Decca in Paris. It’s called ”Dona Lee” with just one ”n”, which is odd. Of course, the title track is a jazz standard. It was either written by Charlie Parker, Miles Davis or Norman "Tiny" Khan, not entirely clear. Braxton plays the avant-garde version and it’s great. The rest of the album features tunes in the avant vein with a healthy dose of more straightforward playing. Braxton shows what a wonderful player he is on these tunes. I’m looking forward to continuing exploring his catalogue. 

Braxton is backed by three cats that are new to me, from what I can remember anyway. They are; Michael Smith on piano, Peter Warren on double bass and Oliver Johnson on drums.

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”In the Tradition” by Anthony Braxton on Steeplechase SCS-1015

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”In the Tradition” by Anthony Braxton on Steeplechase SCS-1015

Braxton stepping in for Dexter.

I think this is a wonderful album with Anthony Braxton playing standards. In Braxtons’ own words: ”This particular record date came about by chance, it was supposed to be a quartet date with Dexter Gordon.” Gordon apparently needed to rest on doctor’s orders and Braxton was called up as he was in Paris.

I’m really diggin’ his playing on this. For example, the rendition of Mingus’ ”Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”, when he plays the contrabass clarinet, is a highlight. Love that instrument and the way he plays it. He also uses it on Bird’s ”Ornithology” in a fast tempo, which is quite an odd but very special experience. The peculiar sound that the instrument produces is seldom heard in this kind of bop tune. Maybe this is the only time, who knows? It’s unique and fun. Braxton also plays alto on this date. It’s always a plus to have Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen on double bass and together with Tete Montoliu on piano and Albert ”Tootie” Heath on drums this group really does the material justice.

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"Impressions" by Three Motions with soloists from Chicago, New York and Vienna on Kovarik's Musikothek R.A.U. 1010

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"Impressions" by Three Motions with soloists from Chicago, New York and Vienna on Kovarik's Musikothek R.A.U. 1010

Magnificent stuff.

Fantastic avant-garde album that is quite accessible, recorded live in 1978 at the First International Music Workshop in the Town Hall in Krems, Austria. The concert features Anthony Braxton and Clifford Thornton among others.

The music is very dynamic with plenty of interesting passages, and the group improvisation is absolutely sublime. Lots of different instruments are featured. We have tenor, alto and soprano sax, trumpet, violin, electric piano, arabian flute, E-flat clarinet, drums, percussion and double bass.

The first side consists of two numbers which features the full band minus Thornton. Brilliant stuff that I feel is accessible even in the most fiery parts. Coltrane’s ”Impressions” kicks things off and it’s outstanding.

On the second side we have just a trio with Braxton (alto), Thornton (trumpet) and Muhammad Malli (soprano). It’s a lenghty, masterful exercise in horn improvisation. Highly enjoyable and engaging during the full 25 minutes.

The cover painting was created by Muhammad Malli.

If you appreciate the avant-garde then this is probably something you’ll enjoy a lot. It’s a clear favorite in the more adventurous part of my collection.

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