Of all of the avant-garde players of the past 30 years, Anthony Braxton has been perhaps the most diligent at documenting his work. The brilliant multireedist has been very fortunate to have a stable quartet for the past nine years with the frequently astounding pianist Marilyn Crispell, bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Gerry Hemingway doing justice to his very complex originals. This double-CD set features Braxton and his group on two continuous and complete live performances. Not only do the musicians tackle a dozen of Braxton's complicated originals, but during part of four of them, individual members are assigned the task of playing a different composition than the rest of the group. Obviously this is not music to be taken lightly or merely played in the background. However, listeners with the time and interest will find much to enjoy in the very lively explorations from these masterful musicians. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
CD1
1. Composition No. 48
2. Composition No. 23m (+108c)
3. Composition No. 32
4. Composition No. 160
5. Composition No. 158
6. Composition No. 158
7. Composition No. 140
CD2
1. Composition No. 69j (+30+ 108d)
2. Composition No. 20 +86
3. Composition No. 171
4. Composition no. 23c
5. Composition No. 105b
MARK DRESSER bass
GERRY HEMINGWAY drums
MARILYN CRISPELL piano
ANTHONY BRAXTON woodwinds
All compositions by Anthony Braxton
Recorded July 1993 at Yoshi's Keystone in Oakland, California
Music & Arts - CD-835