With all the controversy surrounding Yoshi’s at the moment, I thought I might bring back a fond memory for somebody with this one. I’ve come to enjoy it very much, though it’s a fairly recent addition to my Braxton collection.
The fabled quartet of Braxton, Marilyn Crispell, Mark Dresser and Gerry Hemingway was near the end of it’s tenure in the summer of 1993, when twelve sets were recorded at Yoshi’s for possible release. A two-disc set emerged, beginning with the other-worldly Composition 48. Ethereally, it rises and falls, the quartet sounding as unified as I’ve ever heard it, with Mark Dresser providing some stunningly precise yet absolutely emotive arco. By the time we swing into Composition 23M+108C, the tension is almost unbearable, the jagged unison lines doing much to lighten the mood but maintain the energy.
Hemingway’s drumming is captured quite well on this release, a mixture of raw power and subtle timbral concerns. His dynamic range is more than impressive, belying a sense of melody on the kit. Similarly, I have never heard Marilyn Crispell in better form, especially on the epic Composition 171, a solo piano piece transformed into a group effort. Its sinewy melody has a few of the hallmarks of what would emerge as Ghost Trance music two years later.
Braxton plays his usual arsenal of instruments, and the audience is respectfully enthusiastic. This is a set that deserves more discussion than it has received so far, signaling as it does the end of an era.
~ Marc Medwin
Posted by derek on June 10, 2007 3:30 PMI too love this recording, Marc, but it's worth mentioning, I think, that the sound is quite muddy on it. That's likely one reason it's not talked about as much as you (and I) would like.
Posted by: walto at June 11, 2007 6:43 PMI don't hear it as muddy--could use a boost perhaps, but actually the only real problem I have is that Braxton gets drowned out by Hemingway from time to time. Maybe that's what you mean. Never having seen the group, I wonder if that's what I'd hear in the room? Sure, this disc doesn't sound as good as Wilisau, but then neither do the Leos!
Posted by: marc at June 12, 2007 2:58 AMYeah, but there's also the contemporary Santa Cruz concert which is impeccably recorded (o/p, alas, but it's easy enough to get a CDR burn nowadays).
The one that seems to be genuinely overlooked (& indeed I haven't heard it) is the Victo CD by this quartet. Anyone have/heard it?
Posted by: nd at June 12, 2007 7:29 AMThe HatHut Santa Cruz set from the same tour as this Yoshi's record is a better performance with way better sound. I am a freak for this band, and this era of them, and I find this record close to unlistenable. The Music & Arts label released so many dissapointing records by musicians I love. Even when they put out a good one they would ruin the liner notes by leaving out all punctuation or other gross obvious errors that made me wonder "were they HIGH?"
The Victo one that nd refers to is from a couple years earlier, and it totally smokes. The ultra-clear sound is a little lacking in atmosphere, but it's a worthy trade-off to be able to hear the group's complex interaction in all its glory. I saw this band a half-dozen times and the Santa Cruz and the Willisau 4 disc set still do the best job at matching my memories of what a righteous live band they were.
Posted by: Reuben Radding at June 12, 2007 8:08 AMI played almost nothing but the 3 2x sets from london/birmingham/coventry when they came out. yeah the music & arts set does sound bad, especially next to the 4x willisau set. Victo is a great sounding recording. i somehow missed the Santa Cruz set. anyone know where i can get one?
Posted by: barry Chabala at June 12, 2007 8:54 AMI found the London Concert 3lp box on LEO recently and it sounds great.
I agree the sound is weird, with Braxton not coming across that clearly, but it also makes it easier to hear what Hemingway and Dresser are doing.
Posted by: B. Clugston at June 12, 2007 10:32 AM1. Willisau (studio)
2. Santa Cruz
3. Coventry
4. Willisau (live)
5. London
6. Victo
7. Six Compositions
8. their last gig at Knitting Factory (wasn't there, boot)
9. Birmingham
10. Twelve Compositions
sorry really busy today, pretty good band
Looks like you're definitively outvoted, Marc.... :)
While I'm at it, any thoughts on the all-star Victo album with Paul Smoker & Evan Parker? I have this one but haven't spun it in a bit....
Posted by: nd at June 12, 2007 6:09 PMI think part of the point is you don't need to tell anyone how great Santa Crauz and the Willisau box is.
Marc has me curious about this and I am going to check it out.
I'll take a muddy recording of this quartet over all the recorded "Ghost Trance Music". It's not like they are making any new recordings.
This is reminding me that I really need to hook up my turntable so I can listen to the sealed promo 3 LP box of Braxton's piece for 4 orchestras (Arista) which I scored on eBay!
Posted by: Reuben Radding at June 12, 2007 7:51 PMHaving been one of the lucky ones in the audience at the Santa Cruz show, I have to defer to my sentimental side in rating that night over Willisau, Willisau, London, you name it. Nobody there knew that it was the quartet's (near) swan song, but they were playing as if there was no tomorrow. Feet off the ground, that sort of thing.
Nate -- I've never found that Victo set you mention in my 'favorites' column. Paul Smoker sounds like he's having a better time on the Charlie Parker Project...
Posted by: djll at June 12, 2007 11:48 PMYeah, that was my memory of the disc--I got it, spun it a couple times & though "s'alright" then put it away. I guess I'll give it another try.
Posted by: nd at June 13, 2007 6:34 AMdjll - you are talking about the Ensemble 1988 victo disc that has paul smoker on it. i believe the one we're talking about is the Quartet 1992 disc.
Posted by: barry Chabala at June 13, 2007 6:45 AMThat Victo ensemble disc does not do much for me either. I have not spun it in a while and I do not think I will soon.
I'm among those who find the sound on the Music & Arts set barely tolerable. Muddy and unbalanced. The re are audience (or perhaps band, not sure) recordings from that year, in particular the Knitting Factory gigs, with superior sound.
Posted by: gokhan at June 13, 2007 7:28 AMI have the Victo ensemble LP on now. I like it way more now than I did at first. There is some good music on there. I file it under Joëlle Léandre, though.
Posted by: damon Smith at June 13, 2007 9:49 AMActually this Victo ensemble LP is really doing it for me this morning.
I have speakers that sound really good- nothing too fancy, just little technics but they are so clear.
you can really hear everything. I would encourage everyone to take another listen to it.
Would it have been better as a free improv sextet? Probably. But it is still really good.
Barry -- yes, but I'd asked about the other one too!
Just spinning it now. It does sound much better than I remembered so far, especially the voicings & instrumental mix on those opening moments.
Posted by: nd at June 13, 2007 12:48 PMI'd sure love to find out how to get some of those Knitting Factory recordings. In '93 I saw them there 4 times, and it was killing.
Posted by: Reuben Radding at June 13, 2007 3:44 PMReuben - I have the 11, 12 (both two discs), and 14 November (one disc) concerts. The sound on two of those is very good for an audience recording and the third was also not bad, I think. It's not difficult for me to mail you copies. Send me an e-mail at lahtnor at hotmail dot com and we will work it out.
Posted by: gokhan at June 13, 2007 6:36 PMIs it not lost on anybody else that Oakland was recorded at Yoshi's, now infamous for their "no black jazz" compilation? They coul'dve covered several markets at once!
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