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Glenn Astarita for All About Jazz
Anthony Braxton's Small Ensemble Music (Wesleyan) 1994 was recorded at Wesleyan University's "Center for The Arts" as the great saxophonist unearths some of his older compositions and partakes in a series of Duo and Trio based improvisations along with the extended piece titled, "Three Compositions For Sextet". On "Trio Improvisation" we hear Braxton toggle between five different woodwind instruments along with saxophonist André Vida and Brandon Evans who performs on oboe, shenai and bass clarinet. Here, the musicians weave distinct fabrics of sound augmented by chamber-esque characteristics and explicit yet at times delicate lines that perhaps indicate spontaneous conversation accented by various levels of intensity and emotion.
Braxton utilizes his sopranino saxophone on "Duo Improvisation" with drummer/percussionist Eric Rosenthal as the drummer expounds upon a horizontal plane with spurious inventions amid his — snap, crackle and pop style of execution. With this piece, Braxton pursues linear and at times fragmented lines yet it is "Three Compositions for Sextet" that is the showstopper! Along with veterans such as bassist Joe Fonda, drummer/vibist Kevin Norton and others, the saxophonist steers the band through multihued themes and textures surrounded by complex and hypnotic choruses yet an underlying sense of continuity prevails. During these three compositions, i.e. N 44 (1080+96) + 168, N 136 and N 43 + (96) + 168, we hear microtonal passages, mood shifts and heated flurries yet on the final sequence (N 43...) the band coalesces for punctual unison choruses and modern classical style motifs. Throughout, the musicians spew forth-fascinating themes that often convey a sense of fragility or innocence yet with Braxton, we tend to gaze in wonderment at the end results.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2006 All About Jazz and Glenn Astarita.
CD Reviews
All reviews written by Glenn Astarita:
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Forever Real
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Twelve Improvisations
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Live at the Bunker
- Mosaic Sextet: Mosaic Sextet
- FAB: Transforming The Space
- Mark Whitecage's Other Quartet: Consensual Tension
- Anthony Braxton: Small Ensemble Music (Wesleyan) 1994
- Kevin Norton Ensemble featuring Anthony Braxton: For Guy Debord (In Nine Events)
- Fonda-Isbin: Blisters
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Trio (Live at Alchemia, Krakow, Poland, April 2006)
- The Nu Band: The Dope and The Ghost, Live in Vienna
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Steven Loewy for All Music Guide
The first issue from the prolific Italian label Splasc(h)'s international series, this CD fills an important gap in the work of Braxton by focusing on his non-quartet work of the mid-90s. Actually taken from a single concert of duo, trio, and quartet performances, the compositions are characteristically complex, though absorbingly and fascinatingly so. While the level of his classic quartet recordings is hard to beat, these small groups give a different view of the composer/performer — one laced with abstraction and densely layered harmonies. "Composition No. 107," with trombonist Roland Dahinden and pianist Jeanne Chloe, revisits an earlier version recorded with Garrett List and Marianne Schroeder. The two saxophone features, "Trio Improvisation" and "Duo Improvisation," incorporate harmonies in strikingly different ways. "Three Compositions for Sextet," is perhaps the highlight, with two of the three compositions never before recorded. Unfortunately, the sound quality is a tad weak throughout.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2006 All Media Guide, LLC and Steven Loewy.
Source: Z95-3
CD Reviews
All reviews written by Steven Loewy:
- Nu Band: Live at the Bop Shop, Rochester, NY
- Mark Whitecage's Other Quartet: Consensual Tension
- Joe Fonda Quintet: Full Circle Suite
- Williams-Robertson-Stevens-Fonda-Sorgen: When the Lost Becomes Found
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Live at the Bunker
- Fonda/Stevens Group: The Healing
- Conference Call: Variations On A Master Plan
- Anthony Braxton: Small Ensemble Music (Wesleyan) 1994
- Brenda Bufalino: Dancing My Dance In Another Person's Dream
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