Braxton had long been fond of working with improvising wind ensembles. In fact, the earliest incarnation of what would become the World Saxophone Quartet appeared on his landmark Arista album, New York, Fall, 1974. So his collaboration with the ROVA quartet, perhaps the most important practitioners of the form after the WSQ, came as no surprise. The tracks here were recorded at two live dates in 1986 and 1988, with Braxton sitting in on both occasions. Two pieces are by ROVA members, while one long work, "Composition 129 (+ 40F + 40O)," is by Braxton. The opening cut, Larry Ochs' "The Shopper," is an aggressive, rhythmic piece, with a staccato line forming a sold basis for solos by all members. Jon Raskin's title piece is more lush, with a relaxed counterpoint tossed back and forth beneath the solos and rich harmonies reminiscent of Julius Hemphill's beautiful arrangements for the World Saxophone Quartet. The composer does some very beautiful and rich baritone work on this piece, and the group improv sections are imaginative and compelling. The Braxton composition is knotty and compelling, filled with written passages having only a nodding acquaintance with jazz traditions but also including a couple of sections where faint glimmers of Ellington and a hint of march-time can be discerned. It's a testament to the musicianship of the ROVA band that they are capable of negotiating this intricate piece not only with mastery but humor as well. The Aggregate is a challenging recording, more so than most by more jazz-oriented saxophone quartets, but very rewarding on its own terms and an important document in Braxton's work for woodwind ensembles. Brian Olewnick
Tracklist :
1 The Shopper 11:16
Alto Saxophone [Alto] – Andrew Voigt
Baritone Saxophone [Baritone] – Jon Raskin
Bass Saxophone [Bass] – Anthony Braxton
Composed By – Larry Ochs
Soprano Saxophone [Soprano] – Bruce Ackley
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor] – Larry Ochs
2 The Aggregate 11:34
Alto Saxophone [Alto] – Andrew Voigt
Alto Saxophone [Lead Alto] – Anthony Braxton
Baritone Saxophone [Baritone] – Jon Raskin
Composed By – Jon Raskin
Soprano Saxophone [Soprano] – Bruce Ackley
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor] – Larry Ochs
3 Composition 129+ 46:13
Baritone Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet [Bb Clarinet] – Jon Raskin
Composed By – Anthony Braxton
Contrabass Saxophone, Bass Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet [Bb Clarinet] – Bruce Ackley
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone – Larry Ochs
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Flute – Andrew Voigt
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Illustration [Drawings] – Anthony Braxton
Contrabass – Joelle Léandre
Percussion, Drums – Gerry Hemingway
Tenor Saxophone – Evan Parker
Trombone – George Lewis
Trumpet – Paul Smoker
Vibraphone – Bobby Naughton
Notas.
#1 + #3 recorded live at Koncepts Cultural Gallery, Oakland, Cal., July 30, 1988
#2 recorded live at PreEchoes 2 in San Francisco, California, on August 22, 1986
Mastered at Bauer Studios, Ludwigsburg, in August 1989 
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