ANTHONY BRAXTON - 9 Standards (Quartet) 1993 (1996) 2CD | FLAC (tracks), lossless

This is Braxton's first solo piano album, finally recorded after years of woodshedding on the traditional jazz repertoire. That it doesn't sound like any other pianist as much as it sounds like Braxton the saxophonist should not surprise anyone. Braxton approaches standards on piano in much the same way he does on alto. He doesn't just go "out" on the structure; he uses the chords, but he doesn't play patterns or contrived licks over them in the way a bebop player would. Every time he approaches a piece, it's as if he's playing it for the first time, using his accumulated knowledge to decipher just that specific composition's secrets. Braxton doesn't use the tune as a whole. Rather, he dissects the component parts, using the separate elements as material for his improvisation as he makes his way through the piece. It's as if he's telling you about a trip that he's just taken, only instead of saying "I went to San Francisco," he tells you every detail of the trip just as it occurred. You don't know for certain his final destination until story's end; when it's revealed, it's a wonderful surprise made even more interesting by Braxton's discursive narrative. Chris Kelsey  
Tracklist 1 :
1-1    In Motion 14:00
Written-By – Fred Simmons
1-2    Cherokee 16:21
Written-By – R. Noble
1-3    You Go To My Head 14:18
Written-By – H. Gillespie, F. Coots
1-4    On Green Dolphin Street 11:41
Written-By – B. Kaper, N. Washington
1-5    All The Things You Are 9:27
Written-By – J. Kern / O. Hammerstein II
Tracklist 2 :
2-1    Mr. P.C. 13:34
Written-By – J. Coltrane
2-2    I Remember You 13:05
Written-By – J. Mercer, V. Schertzinger
2-3    What's New 14:26
Written-By – R. Haggart, J. Burke
2-4    Impressions 10:09
Written-By – J. Coltrane
Credits:
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax], Sopranino Saxophone [Sopranino Sax], Flute – Anthony Braxton
Artwork [Front Cover Collage] – Stephen Kroninger
Bass – Paul Brown
Drums – Leroy Williams
Piano – Fred Simmons

HANK MOBLEY - Thinking of Home (1970-2002) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For what would be his final of over 20 Blue Note albums, tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley uses a sextet that also includes trumpeter Woody Shaw, the obscure guitarist Eddie Diehl, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Mickey Bass, and drummer Leroy Williams for a typically challenging set of advanced hard bop music. For the first and only time in his career, Mobley recorded a "Suite" (consisting of "Thinking of Home," "The Flight," and "Home at Last"); the remainder of the set has three of his other attractive originals plus Mickey Bass' "Gayle's Groove." This music was not released for the first time until 1980. It is only fitting that Hank Mobley would record one of the last worthwhile Blue Note albums before its artistic collapse (it would not be revived until the 1980s) for his consistent output helped define the label's sound in the 1960s. Mobley's excellent playing and the adventurous solos of Woody Shaw make this hard-to-find LP (his last as a leader) one to hunt for. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Suite: Thinking of Home/The Flight/Home at Last 10:06
Hank Mobley    
2     Justine 13:04
Hank Mobley    
3     You Gotta Hit It 5:34
Hank Mobley    
4    Gayle's Groove 5:33
Mickey Bass    
5     Talk About Gittin'  8:38
Hank Mobley    
Credits :
Bass – Mickey Bass
Drums – Leroy Williams
Guitar – Eddie Diehl
Piano – Cedar Walton
Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley
Trumpet – Woody Shaw