2019 Highlight: Anthony Braxton

From Quartet (New Haven) 2014 released in June from a Firehouse 12 Records 4-CD box set. I am not recommending it all choosing to focus in here on this track the puckishly titled 'Improvisation Four (For guitarist/composer Merle Haggard)' and …

Published: 17 Dec 2019. Updated: 4 years.

From Quartet (New Haven) 2014 released in June from a Firehouse 12 Records 4-CD box set. I am not recommending it all choosing to focus in here on this track the puckishly titled 'Improvisation Four (For guitarist/composer Merle Haggard)' and itself nearly an hour long. Braxton is with Nels Cline (guitar), Greg Saunier (drums), and Taylor Ho Bynum (brass). All quite serene in a way, surreal too and open, Braxton when he gets up high just swaying around with everything insanely fracturing beneath as if the other improvisers are his own chorus taking turns to swap masks. As much a painting as a piece of music that you'd hang on a favourite wall that everyone can view and experience. SG

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2019 Highlight: When will the Blues Leave

This came out in May for the first time. When Will the Blues Leave blew away everything ECM put out this year. So much for brand new stuff recorded since being better than old stuff which we all must know (hopefully) in jazz is absurd but mostly …

Published: 17 Dec 2019. Updated: 4 years.

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This came out in May for the first time. When Will the Blues Leave blew away everything ECM put out this year. So much for brand new stuff recorded since being better than old stuff which we all must know (hopefully) in jazz is absurd but mostly forget given the constant journey to grasp the urge within all artists possess to create something from nothing. This 20-year-old recording by the Pauls Bley, Motian and Gary Peacock is to study and learn from as well as to fully absorb at your leisure. Textbook stuff that sings off the page. SG