Braxton, Anthony

19 Standards (Quartet) 2003 (Limited Edition) [4-Cd Set]

Label: Leo Country: UK

"The year 2003 was an extraordinary year for Anthony Braxton. In 2003 Anthony Braxton Quartet went on a European tour which had become legendary. The members of his quartet were Kevin O'Neil on guitar, Kevin Norton on percussion and Andy Eulau on bass. The concept of the tour was to perform jazz standards and during the tour the quartet performed over 60 jazz standards. The results of the tour were two 4-CD sets entitled "23 Standards(Quartet) 2003" and "20 Standards (Quartet) 2003" released by Leo Records. Both sets received tremendous critical acclaim. The writers noted that Braxton performed jazz standards in an entirely new way. Rather than echoing, aping or diminishing the tradition he was reinventing it making both the past and present much richer than it was before. Now we are releasing the remaining 19 standards (no repeats) - 4.5 hours of music. The set is a must not only for Braxton's followers but for all jazz fans at large."-Leo

"Taken from recordings of live concerts by Anthony Braxton's quartet (completed by guitarist Kevin O'Neil, bassist Andy Eulau and drummer Kevin Norton) all over Europe in 2003, these four CDs document the celebrated multi-instrumentalist's ongoing dialogue with both the Great American songbook (here represented by the likes of 'Body and Soul', 'It's You or No One', 'East of the Sun', 'Nancy with the Laughing Face') and jazz classics such as Monk's 'Ruby My Dear', Jackie McLean's 'Little Melonae' and Coltrane's 'Mr. P.C.'. It also contains an improvisation, 'G. Petal', recorded in Brussels.

Braxton's admiration for the light tone and circumspect approach of Warne Marsh is well documented, and the wispy thoughtfulness of the former's alto (his main instrument of choice, though he does occasionally play its smaller sister saxophone) is what immediately registers in these lengthy discursions, but there is also a terseness, an almost querulous, insistently nagging quality to much of his playing, expressed in the characteristic buzzing warble that marks the climax of some of his more impassioned solos, that is quintessential Braxton.

O'Neil and the rhythm section are discreetly supportive, rather than robustly assertive, throughout the four CDs, although the guitarist does occasionally step into the spotlight to fire off nimble, quick-witted solos; overall, though, this is very much Braxton's project, and his many admirers will be thoroughly absorbed by the wealth of ideas and the sheer improvisational resourcefulness contained in over four and a half hours of live music."-The Vortex