ANTHONY BRAXTON — Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978 (2CD 2009) + Creative Orchestra (Guelph) 2007 (2008) Serie Line – LINE 30 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This expansive two-LP set captures an entire, nearly two-hour live set by Anthony Braxton's Creative Orchestra recorded in Koln, Germany, in 1978. Braxton, like most members of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, a loose Chicago-based collective that also included the Art Ensemble of Chicago and others), normally performed in small groups, from duos to quartets. Braxton's Creative Orchestra -- in which the saxophonist does not play, but merely conducts his own compositions -- is a 20-member exception to this rule. Many of Braxton's compositions explore near-silence in ways similar to John Cage, but this group is nothing if not loud.

Thanks to Braxton's skill as a composer, the results never devolve into mere cacophony, even in those passages where all 20 members -- including an accordionist and a synthesizer player -- are playing at once, as in the opening "Language Improvisations." This is a powerful document of a little-appreciated side of Anthony Braxton's work. Rovi Staff  
Tracklist :
1-1    Language Improvisations    14:34
1-2    Composition 55    12:27
1-3    Composition 45    25:21
2-1    Composition 59    21:45
2-2    Composition 51    17:19
2-3    Composition 58    12:56
Credits :
Accordion – Birgit Taubhorn
Bass – Brian Smith, John Lindberg
Conductor, Composed By – Anthony Braxton
Electric Guitar – James Emery
Percussion, Marimba – Thurman Barker
Piano – Marilyn Crispell
Saxophone [Saxophones], Clarinet [Clarinets], Flute [Flutes], Piccolo Flute [Piccolo], Nadaswaram [Nagaswaram], Ocarina – Dwight Andrews, J.D.Parran, Marty Ehrlich, Ned Rothenberg, Vinny Golia
Synthesizer – Robert Ostertag
Trombone, Tuba – George Lewis, James King Roosa, Ray Anderson
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler, Michael Mossman, Rob Howard, Leo Smith
Vibraphone – Bobby Naughton

Tracklist :
1    Language Improvision    5:02
2    Composition 306    7:04
3    Language Improvision    15:09
4    Composition 307 / Language Improvisation    25:36
5    Composition 91    9:00
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Evan Shaw
Bass – Rob Clutton, Victor Bateman
Cello – Tilman Lewis
Clarinet [Eb Clarinet], Bass Clarinet – Ronda Rindone
Conductor, Soprano Saxophone, Composed By – Anthony Braxton
Drums – Joe Sorbara, Nick Fraser
Flute – Rob Piilonen
Guitar – Ken Aldcroft
Guitar, Harmonica – Justin Haynes
Piano – Tania Gill
Soprano Saxophone – Kyle Brenders
Tenor Saxophone – Colin Fisher
Trombone – Scott Thomson
Trumpet – Nicole Rampersaud
Violin – Parmela Attariwala
Voice – Christine Duncan
Xylophone – Brandon Valdivia

ANTHONY BRAXTON - 4 (Ensemble) Compositions 1992 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Composition No. 100    15:41
2    Composition No. 96    10:16
3    Composition No. 164    23:09
4    Composition No. 163    24:09
Credits :
Accordion – Ted Reichman
Accordion, Other [Bodysounds] – Guy Klucevek
Artwork [Cover Art] – Niridan
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Randy McKean
Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Don Byron
Conductor, Composed By [All Compositions By] – Anthony Braxton
Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Piccolo Flute – Marty Ehrlich
Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Clarinet, Flute [Bamboo] – J.D. Parran
Harp [Uncredited] – Anne LeBaron
Marimba, Vibraphone – Jay Hoggard
Organ, Voice – Amina Claudine Myers
Percussion – Warren Smith
Steel Drums – Lynden Achee
Trombone – John Rapson, Roland Dahinden
Trumpet – Robert Rumboltz

ANTHONY BRAXTON - Tentet (New York) 1996 (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Composition No. 193    1:07:11
Anthony Braxton    
Credits :
Accordion – Ted Reichman
Alto Clarinet, Piccolo Flute – J.D. Parran
Alto Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone [E-flat], Saxophone [F-], Clarinet [E-flat Sopranino, B-flat], Contrabass Clarinet, Flute, Composed By, Producer – Anthony Braxton
Bass – Joe Fonda
Drums, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Percussion – Kevin Norton
Soprano Saxophone [B-flat], Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Andre Vida
Soprano Saxophone [C-], Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute – Brandon Evans
Trombone [Tenor, Alto] – Roland Dahinden
Violin – Gwen Laster, Jacquie Carrasco

ANTHONY BRAXTON - Ninetet (Yoshi's) 1997, Vol. 1 (2002) 2CD | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Recorded live at the San Francisco jazz club Yoshi's, this two-CD set captures Anthony Braxton's "Ghost Trance" music performed by a sympathetic nonet, comprised of a saxophone sextet plus a rhythm section. Each of the group's members is closely associated with Braxton, so that this performance can be said to accurately portray the structure of the music and the intentions of the composer. The sound is surprisingly clear for a live performance, too. This is very difficult music to listen to at one sitting, and the written saxophone parts can be particularly torturous. Pounding pulses devoid of melody, a somewhat limited tonal palette, and lots of repeating phrases (what the composer calls "repetition") add to the complexity and the opaqueness. Appreciating the theoretical underpinnings of the compositions, some of which are discussed by Steve Day in the liner notes, make it more approachable, and the glorious improvisations by Braxton and his colleagues mitigate the harshness of the whole. Although it is virtually impossible to know which reed players are playing what and when, when you bring together the sort of talent represented by saxophone luminaries such as Brandon Evans, James Fei, Jackson Moore, as well as an all-star rhythm section of percussionist Kevin Norton, guitarist Kevin O'Neil, and bassist Joe Fonda, you know that the quality of performance is bound to be superb, and, in fact, the solos and trio breakouts are nothing less than splendid. For those who have been exposed to this phase of Braxton's music, these two performances are among his best for a small group. For those who have not yet tasted these fruits, you may wish to start elsewhere with a single helping. Steve Loewy  
Tracklist :
1-1    Composition N. 207    1:12:00
2-1    Composition N. 208    1:11:09
Credits :
Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Alto Saxophone [F-Alto Sax], Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], C Melody Saxophone [C-Melody Sax], Flute, Clarinet [Bb Clarinet], Bass Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet – Anthony Braxton
Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Clarinet [Bb Clarinet] – Jackson Moore
Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Bass Clarinet – James Fei
Artwork – Lora Denis
Bass – Joe Fonda
Drums, Marimba, Percussion, Vibraphone – Kevin Norton
Electric Guitar – Kevin O'Neil
Music By – Anthony Braxton
Producer – Anthony Braxton, Leo Feigin
Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Bass Saxophone [Bass Sax], Flute – J.D. Parran
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Baritone Saxophone [Baritone Sax] – Andre Vida
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Soprano Saxophone [C-Soprano Sax], Sopranino Saxophone [Sopranino Sax], Bass Clarinet, Flute – Brandon Evans

ANTHONY BRAXTON - Ninetet (Yoshi's) 1997, Vol. 2 (2003) 2CD | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Braxton's Ghost Trance Music series ranks among the most difficult music to review. Everyone has his or her personal favorites among the dozens of discs released under this umbrella and, since the general idea underpinning them all and the quality of musicianship remain rather constant, evaluation comes down to highly subjective factors. For instance, one listener might find the first volume in Leo Records' Ninetet (Yoshi's) 1997 series lacking in interest, but would be hard pressed to rationally explain why this second installment, Ninetet (Yoshi's) 1997, Vol. 2 is so much better. The lineup is the same: a barrage of woodwinds (Anthony Braxton, Brandon Evans, James Fei, Jackson Moore, Andre Vidal, and J.D. Parran, all playing multiple saxophones, clarinets, and flutes) accompanied by guitar (Kevin O'Neil), bass (Joe Fonda), and percussion (Kevin Norton), although all nine players rarely perform at the same time. Both "Composition N. 209" and "Composition N. 210" move through a quasi-endless and constantly renewed flow of trios (the latter also uses larger combinations). The music was recorded the day after the first volume, and consists once again of two disc-long pieces. The difference on Vol. 2 is that the group sounds more focused, more willing to trap the listener into the hypnotic patterns of the music and push him to the edge of free improvisation. "Composition N. 210" in particular deploys some mean tricks to make you forget that it is written down. The two pieces develop very different colors. Most noticeable is the fact that Norton (mostly) plays the drum kit in "N. 210," while he sticks to mallet percussion and cymbals in "N. 209." And so, either by design or attraction, "N. 210" displays a certain free jazz mood, prone to a certain frenzy, while "N. 209" slightly evokes contemporary classical music, especially in its delicate finale. Up to this point, the listener may be under the impression that GTM worked better with small groupings, but this set proves otherwise. François Couture  
Tracklist :
1-1    Composition N. 209    57:49
2-1    Composition N. 210    58:33
Credits :
Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Alto Saxophone [F-Alto Sax], Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], C Melody Saxophone [C-Melody Sax], Flute, Clarinet [Bb Clarinet], Bass Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet – Anthony Braxton
Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Clarinet [Bb Clarinet] – Jackson Moore
Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Bass Clarinet – James Fei
Artwork – Lora Denis
Bass – Joe Fonda
Drums, Marimba, Percussion, Vibraphone – Kevin Norton
Electric Guitar – Kevin O'Neil
Music By – Anthony Braxton
Producer – Anthony Braxton, Leo Feigin
Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Bass Saxophone [Bass Sax], Flute – J.D. Parran
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Baritone Saxophone [Baritone Sax] – Andre Vida
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Soprano Saxophone [C-Soprano Sax], Sopranino Saxophone [Sopranino Sax], Bass Clarinet, Flute – Brandon Evans

ANTHONY BRAXTON - Ninetet (Yoshi's) 1997, Vol. 3 (2005) 2CD | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Released 15 months after Vol. 2, this two-CD set continues to document the Anthony Braxton Ninetet's six-night residency at Yoshi's. "Composition No. 211" and "Composition No. 212" (each 55 minutes long) were both performed on August 21, 1997. Because of the range of arrangements it offers in a format relatively easy to keep together, the Ninetet is turning into Braxton's ultimate Ghost Trance Music-era group, in the light of these recordings. The (shifting) triple-trio configuration, the quality of the musicianship, and the creativity developed from "Composition No. 207" through "Composition No. 218" will make this series one of the essential documents of GTM. As on the previous night, the most immediate difference between the first and the second pieces is Kevin Norton's role. In "211," he sticks exclusively to marimba and vibraphone, while in "212" he is mostly behind the drum kit. The first piece is the strongest one of the two. Braxton, Brandon Evans, and J.D. Parran form a flute trio at one point which, coupled with Norton's vibes, takes listeners into unusually velvety pastures. The pulse is marvelously sustained, producing a strong hypnotic effect, and the music attains a level of complexity and confidence -- ease too, probably -- the previous evenings only hinted at. "212" is slightly less impressive, mostly because the wind section lacks a bit of togetherness in key places. But it also features a fine bass sax solo from Parran, some of the series' most audacious "departures" from the main score, and a gentle finale (a nice change from the more standard GTM practice, which consists of abruptly stopping in the middle of a staccato tutti). The quality and entertainment value of Steve Day's listening diary -- an excellent no-nonsense contextualization of Braxton's music -- is is also worth noting. François Couture
Tracklist :
1-1    Composition N. 211    55:30
2-1    Composition N. 212    55:35
Credits :
Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Alto Saxophone [F-Alto Sax], Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], C Melody Saxophone [C-Melody Sax], Flute, Clarinet [Bb Clarinet], Bass Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet – Anthony Braxton
Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Clarinet [Bb Clarinet] – Jackson Moore
Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Bass Clarinet – James Fei
Artwork – Lora Denis
Bass – Joe Fonda
Drums, Marimba, Percussion, Vibraphone – Kevin Norton
Electric Guitar – Kevin O'Neil
Music By – Anthony Braxton
Producer – Anthony Braxton, Leo Feigin
Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Bass Saxophone [Bass Sax], Flute – J.D. Parran
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Alto Saxophone [Eb Alto Sax], Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Baritone Saxophone [Baritone Sax] – Andre Vida
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Soprano Saxophone [C-Soprano Sax], Sopranino Saxophone [Sopranino Sax], Bass Clarinet, Flute – Brandon Evans