ANTHONY BRAXTON - The Complete Braxton (1973-1988) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This two-LP set features the innovative multireedist in a variety of settings. Recorded while he was a member of the group Circle, Braxton is heard in two duets with pianist Chick Corea, three fairly exciting quartet tracks with trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Barry Altschul, an unaccompanied solo on contrabass clarinet, a piece (which Braxton wrote but does not play on) for five tubas, and a selection in which he overdubbed four sopranino saxes. Lots of very interesting performances come from a master of the avant-garde who has always followed his own musical path. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Up Thing [N 508-10 (4G)] 4:35
Piano – Chick Corea
Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
2    Quartet Ballad [J-572 (431)] 16:35
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Bass, Cello – Dave Holland
Percussion, Bells – Barry Altschul
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
3    March [67M F-12] 5:15
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Bass, Cello – Dave Holland
Percussion, Bells – Barry Altschul
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
4    Four Sopranos [ZM-F-K] 15:00
Soprano Saxophone [Four Parts Overdubbed] – Anthony Braxton
5    Be Bop [R76-4] 9:47
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Bass, Cello – Dave Holland
Percussion, Bells – Barry Altschul
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
6    Five Tubas [3-24 (Tuba Realization)] 8:01
Ensemble – The London Tuba Ensemble
Tuba [C] – Paul Lawrence (2)
Tuba [E Flat] – Geoffrey Adams (2), James Anderson (6), John Fletcher (2), Michael Barnes (4)
7    Soprano Ballad [JNK 4 Degrees] 14:32
Piano – Chick Corea
Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
8    Contra Basse [4-16 CJF] 6:18
Contrabass Clarinet [Contrebasse] – Anthony Braxton

RICHARD TEITELBAUM & ANTHONY BRAXTON - Time Zones (1977-1999) FLAC (tracks), lossless

"With Anthony Braxton" was a credit printed on this album's front and back cover in a typeface only a notch smaller than Richard Teitelbaum's name. Braxton is everywhere here, and has everything to do with this album. He plays in duo with Teitelbaum the electronics maestro on the entire album, and surely engineered the deal to make it possible for his buddy to release the record on Arista, which at that point held an exclusive contract with Braxton himself. It was also Braxton who basically promoted Teitelbaum within the confines of the avant-garde free jazz scene, talking him up in interviews and fitting pieces involving him into several different recording projects. There are tastes of the duos these artists have created splashed through the Braxton discography like ice cream stains on a rumpus room rug. This album combines a summer's evening live concert with a studio session cut the following fall, and is quite an accurate document of their work together in the '70s, complete with Braxton's usual dedications, this time to Roscoe Mitchell and Maryanne Amacher. This duo was one of the great instrumental combinations of the '70s, the reed arsenal of Braxton and seemingly unlimited sonic arsenal of Teitelbaum coming together like two great French chefs with a hall full of guests to feed. Each man never seems to stop listening, not only to each other but to a greater force as well, as if in complete understanding of the ramifications of each development. This album should satisfy a listener's desire to hear truly imaginative and successful improvisation involving both electronic and acoustic instruments. The album was later reissued, under Braxton's name, as part of a Black Lion package. Eugene Chadbourne  
Tracklist :
1    Crossing 24:29
Engineer [Recording] – Bill Warrell
2    Behemoth Dreams 21:24
Engineer – Thomas Mark
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Contrabass Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Clarinet, Clarinet [Eb], Contrabass Clarinet, Composed By – Anthony Braxton
Bass – Dave Holland
Drums, Percussion – Barry Altschul
Trombone – George Lewis

ORNETTE COLEMAN - An Evening with Ornette Coleman (1965-1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Released as a double LP in the U.S. on the Arista Freedom label in the early '70s, this live concert captures Coleman in a transitional period that found him experimenting with contemporary classical forms as well as making more frequent use of the violin and trumpet. In many ways, it can be heard as an extension of the ideas first encountered on the ESP Town Hall Concert recording. It begins with a lengthy piece for wind quintet (on which neither Coleman nor his partners for this event, bassist David Izenson and drummer Charles Moffett, perform) that foreshadows later work such as Skies of America. While it's somewhat derivative of, even at that point, rather clichéd modernist styles, it still possesses a uniquely Coleman-ish verve and lilt. This is followed by his harrowing "Sadness," led in by Izenson's grinding arco and launched into the ether by Coleman's bone-piercing alto; it's an amazing performance. There's a brilliant reading of "Clergyman's Dream," the leader's alto never sounding creamier, rolling and bouncing over his rhythm section as naturally as a stream over boulders. His use of trumpet and violin earned him the wrath of many a jazz critic and listener at the time, those who retained an adherence to "professionalism" at all costs and couldn't understand Coleman's willful primitivism and the rationale behind it. A few years hence, they would be even more outraged when he introduced his 12-year-old son into the band as drummer. Heard now, there's an extremely refreshing freedom in his approach, one that strongly underlines his contention that innate musical ability trumps technique. An Evening with Ornette Coleman is a wonderful recording and should command a place in the collection of any serious fan of this great musician. Brian Olewnick  
Tracklist :
1     Sounds and Forms for Wind Quintet 16:13
Ornette Coleman    
2     Sadness 3:33
Ornette Coleman    
3     Clergyman's Dream 12:15
Ornette Coleman
4     Falling Stars 8:54
Ornette Coleman
5     Silence 9:13
Ornette Coleman
6     Happy Fool 7:11
Ornette Coleman
7     Ballad 5:19
Ornette Coleman    
8     Doughnuts 6:10
Ornette Coleman    
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Violin, Trumpet, Written-By – Ornette Coleman
Bass – David Izenzon
Drums – Charles Moffett

ORNETTE COLEMAN - Who's Crazy? (1966-1994) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This two-LP set contains the soundtrack Ornette Coleman and his trio contributed for the obscure Belgian film of the same name. Coleman (switching between alto, trumpet and violin), bassist Dave Izenzon and drummer Charles Moffett did not merely provide filler music but full-blown improvisations that stand very much on their own. Fans of Coleman's very explorative music are advised to search for this valuable two-fer. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1-1    European Echoes    14:20
1-2    Unnamed    13:49
1-3    Unnamed    13:49
2-1    The Fifth Of Beethoven    14:56
2-2    Wedding Day    16:15
2-3    Unnamed    14:41
2-4    Sadness    4:03
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Violin, Trumpet, Composed By – Ornette Coleman
Bass – David Izenzon
Percussion – Charles Moffett

ALBERT AYLER AND DON CHERRY - Vibrations (1964-1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

1964 was a busy year for Albert Ayler, who recorded at least seven albums worth of material. This particular session, a quartet date with trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Sunny Murray, was probably his most significant of the period. Switching between tenor and alto, Ayler is often ferocious on the six performances, jumping from simple melodies (of which "Ghosts" is the most memorable) to intense sound explorations overflowing with emotion; he even makes Cherry seem conservative. It helps greatly to have open ears to appreciate this music, although Ayler's jams would become a bit more accessible the following year. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Ghosts    2:04
Albert Ayler
2    Children    6:50
Albert Ayler
3    Holy Spirit    8:29
Albert Ayler
4    Ghosts    7:58
Albert Ayler
5    Vibrations    4:55
Albert Ayler
6    Mothers    7:06
Albert Ayler
Credits :
Bass – Gary Peacock
Cornet – Don Cherry
Drums – Sunny Murray
Tenor Saxophone – Albert Ayler

ARCHIE SHEPP - Montreux One (1975-1988) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The first of two CDs that resulted from the great tenor Archie Shepp's appearance at the 1975 Montreux Jazz Festival features the important avant-garde player in a quintet with trombonist Charles Greenlee, pianist Dave Burrell, bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Beaver Harris. Shepp, who was nearing the end of his free jazz period (soon he would be exploring hymns and traditional melodies) puts a lot of emotion into "Lush Life" and sounds fine on originals by Burrell and Greenlee in addition to his own "U-jamsa." A worthy effort. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Lush Life 12:40
Billy Strayhorn
2     U-Jamaa    10:22
Archie Shepp
3     Crucificado 11:43
Dave Burrell
4     Miss Toni 11:57
Charles "Majeed" Greenlee
Credits
Bass – Cameron Brown
Drums – Beaver Harris
Piano – Dave Burrell
Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Trombone – Charles Majid Greenlee

ARCHIE SHEPP - Montreux Two (1976) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp was at a turning point of sorts in 1975. He was near the end of his free jazz phase and would soon be exploring melodies from both the jazz tradition and the early 20th century; in addition, his tone would begin to decline within a decade. However, that is not in evidence during this fairly rousing live appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival with his quintet (which also includes trombonist Charles Greenlee, pianist Dave Burrell, bassist Cameron Brown, and drummer Beaver Harris). This second of two CDs is the better of the pair and a good outing for Archie Shepp. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Steam 8'36
Written-By – Archie Shepp
2     Along Came Betty 12:59
Written-By – Benny Golson
3     Blues For Donald Duck 15:47     
Written-By – Grachan Moncur
Credits
Bass – Cameron Brown
Drums – Beaver Harris
Piano – Dave Burrell
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Trombone – Charles Majid Greenlee

DEWEY REDMAN - Look for the Black Star (1966-1994) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Although always a bit under-recognized and overshadowed by his contemporaries, tenor-saxophonist Dewey Redman has long been one of the giants of the avant-garde and bop. This early recording finds Redman discovering his own individual voice on five of his frequently emotional originals. Assisted by pianist Jym Young, bassist Donald Raphael Gareet and drummer Eddie Moore, this San Francisco date is quite adventurous and holds one's interest throughout. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :
1 Look For The Black Star
2 For Eldon
3 Spur Of The Moment
4 Seven And One
Clarinet – Donald Garrett
5 Of Love
Credits :
Bass – Donald Garrett
Drums – Eddie Moore
Piano [African Thumb Piano] – Jym Young
Tenor Saxophone, Written-By – Dewey Redman

CECIL TAYLOR - Silent Tongues (1975) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is a classic Cecil Taylor solo concert, performed at the 1974 Montreux Jazz Festival. Taylor plays his five-movement work "Silent Tongues," along with a couple of brief encores. To simplify in explaining what he was doing at this point of time, it can be said that Taylor essentially plays the piano like a drum set, creating percussive and thunderous sounds that are otherworldly and full of an impressive amount of energy and atonal ideas. Many listeners will find these performances to be quite difficult but it is worth the struggle to open up one's perceptions as to what music can be. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Abyss (First Movement)/Petals and Filaments (Second Movement)/Jitney 18:23
Cecil Taylor
2     Crossing, Pt. 1 8:36
Cecil Taylor   
3     Crossing, Pt. 2 10:00
Cecil Taylor
4     After All 9:59
Cecil Taylor
5     Jitney No. 2 4:11
Cecil Taylor
6     After All No. 2 2:50
Cecil Taylor
Credits :
Piano, Music By – Cecil Taylor