Extracting information (and sometimes pleasure) from an Anthony Braxton
large ensemble recording is often an arduous task. The music's density
and somewhat impermeable nature often exhausts a listener's patience.
Somehow this has rarely been the case with his duo recordings. Duets
with Max Roach, Georg Grawe, Gino Robair, Evan Parker, Derek Bailey,
and now Taylor Ho Bynum lend insight into one of the true musical
geniuses of our time.
Joining Braxton is cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum, Braxton’s
masters student at Wesleyan University. Bynum is no novice. He has
recorded with Braxton’s larger ensembles, made two nice duets
discs with drummer Eric Rosenthal, and is a member of the Fully
Celebrated Orchestra, which is a sort of 21st century update on Ornette
Coleman’s early 1960’s band.
This post-Ghost Trance 2002 recording finds Braxton switching
between saxophones and his much loved clarinets. The pair mixes up the
session with two compositions by Braxton, three by Bynum, and a
spontaneous improvisation. The relaxed nature of these tracks is the story
here. Neither player grandstands, opting for fidelity to the
compositions and deference to the other player. Not that there
aren’t moments of outstanding merit, such as Braxton’s
verbal overblowing on “Scrabble,†his circular breathing
on “Composition 305,†and Bynum's deft mute work. The
pair work through minimalist breathing exercises on Bynum’s
“To Wait†and a jocular post-bop romp with “All
Roads Lead To Middletown.†Bynum seems to be following the
pathways of modern trumpeters Bill Dixon, Don Cherry, and Axel Dorner.
He extends the possibilities of the trumpet, yet includes us along for the
ride. This is a highly accessible and very enjoyable date.
Track listing: Composition 304 (+ 91, 151, 164); Scrabble; To Wait; All Roads Lead To
Middletown; Improvisation; Composition 305 (+ Language Improvisations,
44).
Personnel: Anthony Braxton: sopranino saxophone, soprano saxophone, F alto
saxophone, Eb alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, Eb clarinet, Bb
clarinet, contralto clarinet; Taylor Ho Bynum: cornet, trumpbone, shell,
mutes.
Style: Modern Jazz
Published: January 01, 2003
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Extracting information (and sometimes pleasure) from an Anthony Braxton
large ensemble recording is often an arduous task. The music's density
and somewhat impermeable nature often exhausts a listener's patience.
Somehow this has rarely been the case with his duo recordings. Duets
with Max Roach, Georg Grawe, Gino Robair, Evan Parker, Derek Bailey,
and now Taylor Ho Bynum lend insight into one of the true musical
geniuses of our time.
