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″.
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.
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
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