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Anthony Braxton / Jerry Hemmingway: Old Dogs
ByHemmingway was a member of Braxton's quartet from 1983-1994 (one of the saxophonist's most successful groups), along with bassist Mark Dresser and pianist Marilyn Crispell. Braxton's past history with Hemingway paved the way for these inspired sessions; the two reuniting twelve years after the end of the quartet.
Braxton has recorded many duo outings with a wide variety of players, including Joe Morris, Fred Frith, Taylor Ho Bynum, Evan Parker, Andrew Cyrille, and Derek Bailey. Here, he plays seven different saxophones (his tenor had been stolen), while Hemmingway often steps away from his drum kit to take up various instrument he found at the Wesleyan facility, including marimba and vibraphoneboth of which he has played on other recordings.
The variety and diversification of sound heard here is staggering. Without dividing each hour-long disc into tracks, the pair seamlessly knits the different improvisations together. The overall interplay or conversation between Braxton and Hemingway can be the emphasis, or smaller parts of the whole can be encountered and treasured. In 100 years of recorded jazz music, early recordings by artists like Louis Armstrong were limited to but three short minutes; with Old Dogs (2007)<./em>, the outstanding Braxton and Hemmingway were granted a full hour at a time, and they provide a total experience of sound.
Track Listing
Invention 8107AM; Invention 8107PM; Invention 8207AM; Invention 8207PM.
Personnel
Anthony Braxton
woodwindsAnthony Braxton: Eb sopranino saxophone, Bb saxophone, Eb alto saxophone, C melody saxophone, Eb baritone saxophone, Bb bass saxophone, Bb contrabass saxophone; Gerry Hemingway: drums, marimba, vibraphone, steel drums, wood blocks, triggered and non- triggered samplers, harmonica, voice, percussion.
Album information
Title: Old Dogs | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Mode Records
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About Anthony Braxton
Instrument: Woodwinds
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