Jazz Sermon
10Apr/090

Anthony Braxton Quartet Live 1981

Amazing stuff from Anthony Braxton recorded live in Hamburg, Germany in 1981.  Lineup is Braxton on the soprano sax, Hugh Ragin on trumpet, Ray Anderson on trombone and Marilyn Crispell on piano.  This is the same lineup that appears on Braxton's classic 1981 album "Composition 98".

10Apr/090

Listening Room – “Five Pieces 1975″

Anthony Braxton assembled one of his best groups for this 1975 release on Arista Records.  With Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler and Barry Altschul joining him in the studio, Braxton laid down what is considered by his many admirers as one of his finest recordings of the 1970's.  All but the opening track (You Stepped Out of a Dream) were composed by Braxton and the tight and very capable players in the group handle the complex music beautifully.

braxtonfive

Released 1975  :  Arista Records  :  Catalog # A 4064

Players:
Anthony Braxton - Alto Sax, Clarinet, Sopranino, Flute, Contrabass Clarinet
Kenny Wheeler - Trumpet
Dave Holland - Bass
Barry Altschul - Drums

Anthony Braxton - Opus 23G from "Five Pieces 1975"

Anthony Braxton - Opus 40M from "Five Pieces 1975"

9Feb/090

Listening Room – “Conference Of The Birds”

Dave Holland - "Four Winds"

Dave Holland - "Q & A"

From "Conference of the Birds" : 1972 : ECM

This album from 1972 was Dave Holland's first as a leader of his own group. He had previously played with Miles on the classics In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew. All Music Guide calls Conference of the Birds "one of the all time avant-garde jazz classics" and it is one of the rare times, if not the only time, that Sam Rivers and Anthony Braxton played together on record.

Players:
Dave Holland -Bass
Anthony Braxton - Alto & Soprano Sax, Clarinet, Flute
Sam Rivers - Tenor & Soprano Sax, Flute
Barry Altschul - Drums & Percussion