ANTHONY BRAXTON - Performance (Quartet) 1979 (2007) FLAC (tracks), lossless

This two-Lp set has a continuous 71-minute performance by Anthony Braxton's 1979 quartet, a unit that features the leader on alto, clarinets and contrabass clarinet along with the masterful (and sometimes hilarious) trombonist Ray Anderson, bassist John Lindberg and percussionist Thurman Barker. The group interprets seven of Braxton's compositions (which he outlines in extensive and generally readable liner notes) including a closing and somewhat humorous march. Since the Braxton-Anderson musical partnership did not last all that long and resulted in some real fireworks, this twofer is one that Braxton's fans will want to search for. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Part I    36:48
2    Part II    34:26
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Saxophone [B & E], Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Anthony Braxton
Double Bass – John Lindberg
Percussion, Xylophone, Gong – Thurman Barker
Trombone, Trombone [Alto], Instruments [Little] – Ray Anderson

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 - Performance (Quartet) 1979 (2007) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Part I 36:47
2    Part II 34:26
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone [B♭ And E♭], Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet, Arranged By – Anthony Braxton
Bass – John Lindberg
Percussion, Xylophone, Gong [Gongs] – Thurman Barker
Trombone, Trombone [Alto], Instruments [Little] – Ray Anderson

ANTHONY BRAXTON - Composition 98 (1981-1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Composition 98    
Pt. 1 24:23
Pt. 2 24:14
Credits:
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax], Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax], Sopranino Saxophone [Sopranino Sax], Saxophone [C Melody Sax], Composed By – Anthony Braxton
Piano – Marilyn Crispell
Trombone, Trombone [Alto Trombone], Trombone [Slide Trombone] – Ray Anderson
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Piccolo Trumpet – Hugh Ragin

ANTHONY BRAXTON - Composition No. 94 For Three Instrumentalists (1980) 2CD (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A major find, this recording captures the only trio appearance of Braxton, trombonist Ray Anderson, and guitarist James Emery during a performance in Bologna, Italy. Everything gelled that evening as the group played two versions of Braxton's monumental "Composition No. 94," the second one an incredible reading of the piece backwards! All the musicians were in perfect synch, as Braxton utterly impresses with lengthy forays on sopranino, soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, and contrabass clarinet, while Anderson is stunning on both alto and tenor trombones, cornet, and slide trumpet. Add Emery's extraordinary manipulations on electronics and major efforts on both acoustic and electric guitars, and the results should please even the most discerning critic of free jazz. Surprises abound, as this is one of the finest examples of extraordinary free music from the 1980s. The poor sound quality diminishes the thrill somewhat, but this CD remains an important document and a major contribution to Braxton's discography. Steve Loewy  
Tracklist :
First Set   
Composition No. 94 (Forward Reading)    (38:48)
1.1    Section A   
1.2    Section B, Part One   
1.3    Section B, Part Two   
Second Set   
Composition No. 94 (Backward Reading)    (37:15)
2.1    Section B, Part Two   
2.2    Section B, Part One   
2.3    Section A   
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electronics – James Emery
Sopranino Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Contrabass Clarinet, Music By – Anthony Braxton
Trombone [Alto Trombone], Tenor Trombone, Cornet, Trumpet [Slide Trumpet] – Ray Anderson

SAM RIVERS' RIVBEA ALL-STAR ORCHESTRA - Inspiration (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Prior to Inspiration, Sam Rivers hadn't recorded for a major label in nearly 20 years, and he hadn't cut a studio session in two decades. That doesn't mean he was inactive; he was teaching, playing, and giving concerts but never recording. Aware that many of Rivers' big-band compositions -- not only his recent material, but some earlier works as well -- had never been given the proper treatment, saxophonist Steve Coleman helped arrange a recording contract with BMG, with the end result being the astonishing Inspiration album. The compositions on Inspiration are as old as 1968's "Beatrice" and as new as 1995's "Solace" (incidentally, both of those pieces are tributes to his wife Beatrice, who also provides half of the name of the featured big band, the Rivbea All-Star Orchestra). Remarkably, all of the compositions not only sound fresh, they sound visionary -- still ahead of their time. It's not only because the stellar musicians give vibrant, unpredictable performances, although that undeniably helps; Rivers' writing is the real key. His writing for big band is utterly original, blending big-band, bop, and avant-garde traditions together in unique, surprising ways. The dissonance never sounds irritating -- it sounds melodic -- and the complex themes are strangely inviting. Similarly, Rivers' playing is robust, swinging between intense bursts of sound and beautiful lyricism, and sometimes combining it all at once. His 16 colleagues -- including such luminaries as Steve Coleman, Greg Osby, Chico Freeman, and Ray Anderson -- follow suit, delivering wonderfully shaded, invigorating performances. Inspiration truly is a revelation, proving not only that Rivers retains all his creative power at the age of 75, but that avant-garde jazz can be as inviting as any other style without sacrificing any of its depth or daring. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1    Vines    13:36
2    Nebula    11:18
3    Beatrice    10:36
4    Inspiration    9:41
5    Solace    11:01
6    Whirlwind    5:43
7    Rejuvenation    8:32
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Greg Osby, Steve Coleman
Baritone Horn – Joseph Daley
Baritone Saxophone – Hamiet Bluiett
Bass – Doug Mathews
Drums – Anthony Cole
Producer – Steve Coleman
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Written-By – Sam Rivers
Tenor Saxophone – Chico Freeman, Gary Thomas
Trombone – Art Baron, Joseph Bowie, Ray Anderson
Trumpet – Baikida Carroll, James Zollar, Ralph Alessi, Ravi Best
Tuba – Bob Stewart

SAM RIVERS' RIVBEA ALL-STAR ORCHESTRA - Culmination (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sam Rivers' second recording with his Rivbea All-Star Orchestra for RCA is similar to his first one in that he uses an impressive 17-piece band full of top avant-gardists to interpret the dense arrangements of his originals. The music, which is frequently atonal, has so much going on at times that it will take several listens to comprehend everything; it certainly does not lose one's interest! The only fault to this stimulating set is that the soloists are not identified. Although one may recognize the various saxophonists (Steve Coleman, Greg Osby, Chico Freeman, Gary Thomas, and Hamiet Blueitt) and trombonist Ray Anderson, most of the brass players will be more difficult to determine. This very adventurous music is remarkable in ways and well worth acquiring by free jazz collectors. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Spectrum    7:22
2    Bubbles    8:27
3    Revelation    10:36
4    Culmination    8:12
5    Ripples    13:38
6    Neptune    5:53
7    Riffin'    6:26
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Greg Osby, Steve Coleman
Baritone Horn – Joseph Daley
Baritone Saxophone – Hamiet Bluiett
Bass – Doug Mathews
Drums – Anthony Cole
Painting – Scramble Campbell
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Written-By – Sam Rivers
Tenor Saxophone – Chico Freeman, Gary Thomas
Trombone – Art Baron, Joseph Bowie, Ray Anderson
Trumpet – Baikida Carroll, James Zollar, Ralph Alessi, Ravi Best
Tuba – Bob Stewart