Anthony Braxton Quartet, Montreux 1975

[@lesgoe8908]

Barry Altschul -- an underrated drummer from this period. He could swing and play free while giving empathic support for soloists and ensemble. You don't play with Dr. Anthony Braxton if you're a drudge. (Michael Cuscuna was an angel to sign Braxton to the major label Arista in the 70s with some classic albums resulting -- including one with material from this concert.)

[@jonathanedwards8696]

As a young drummer in the early 70s, Barry was one of my favorites. It wasn't until the late 80s that I got to see him perform. It was in Cambridge. Trombonist Ray Anderson was there but I forget who thesax player and the bass player were.

[@senorton]

for the record, this is Composition 40M. in Braxton's Composition Notes, reproduced in Graham Lock's "Forces in Motion" (New York, Da Capo Press, 1988), Composition 40M is described as "Fast tempo line over bass vamp" (this is on p. 343). Whereas Composition 23E is described as "Slow to very fast pulse line" (p. 337); in this case the horns play a slow, rubato line while the rhythm section starts out very slowly and gradually becomes quite frenetic. further, the "opus" numbers (i.e., the composition numbers) in the Mosaic set, which Michael Cuscuna prepared working closely with Braxton, bear this out. (it's confusing on the Arista albums because Braxton hadn't started publishing the composition numbers yet.)

[@halcharles9995]

You're quite right, this is Comp. 40M. FWIW though the description you cite from Lock is just the catalog(ue) of works, not the Composition Notes as such (which are MUCH longer and more detailed)

[@fjleduc]

I was there in 1975 squatting the Continental Hôtel. Braxton was a revelation. And Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan, Dizzy Gillespie and friends jamming late at night. Mémorable.

[@jsiron6]

Same memory

[@stevegove-humphries7896]

So jealous. I am a particular fan of Kenny Wheeler & Dave Holland ( the boy from Wolverhampton) who played often in Birmingham ( England ) & whose double bass I stored in my hallway when he came over to Birmingham for a series of concerts. Saw Mr Braxton 3 or 4 times when he did a tour of England. And Kenny was such a nice man. And a supreme composer & player.

[@louisef.9137]

I'd kill to see these guys again...

[@tomd3098]

Christ, Dave Holland is just formidable on this one (well, always). His walking lines swing like fuck, and technique in his solo is just scary-good. What a player!

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Every single Dave Holland solo I have heard always blows the audience away!

[@sterlingweston]

The theme/head to this tune is exactly what I think your name refers too. absolute MONSTER JAZZ LICK!!!

[@monsterjazzlicks]

@@sterlingweston ha ha, what an analogy!

[@michaelhoffman5486]

cause dave is a god of the bass

[@stevetimm6773]

When I saw this group (in Minneapolis), his bass was bouncing on the stage during his solos

[@Broadpath_Media]

Saw Braxton and Holland live as a duo at around this time period. They did this piece with Bass and Contrabass Saxophone - slowly!

[@FedericoRJ]

Just amazing playing... thanks for uploading this beauty.

[@Broadpath_Media]

Ever since first heard this piece some 45 years ago, the head was etched into my ganglia to the point that I would occasionally find myself singing it while doing mundane things - even after not hearing it for decades. Folks would ask what I was humming...

[@jedwing]

SAME HERE! It's one of his hits!

[@jeffk829]

U lucky bastard!!! One year before I was born!!

[@Markus_Breuss]

I was there!!! What a Concert!!!

[@tomd3098]

Wow, really?! How was it? Did you get to speak to the band after?

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Did they only play this one tune?

[@jfblanc3618]

a big shit

[@WeyrdSonRecords]

@@monsterjazzlicks yeah, these killer musicians went to Montreux Festival to play a 8 min tune only............................................. (DUH)

[@monsterjazzlicks]

@@WeyrdSonRecords Horrible attitude towards this community.

[@raulmacias1311]

What a Rhythm section Dave Holland and Barry Altschul were! Anthony Braxton as always is mindblowing! Kenny Wheeler is great on Trumoet.

[@jeffdawson2786]

Formidable band with an open sound like Ornette’s.

[@brianhammer5107]

This was a FANTASTIC group. Those Arista albums 1971-1976 - wow. Good to see these guys at their prime ... young. CIRCLE was a great group, too - sub out Wheeler for Chick Corea. Like Eric Dolphy, Braxton played/excelled on several horns. After 1979 or so, I was only occassionally interested - when he did an album like "Six Compositions", for instance.

[@tonymostromable]

Did Derek Bailey ever play w Circle?

[@brianhammer5107]

@@tonymostromable he was never a member and no album releases have Bailey on them - as to whether he ever had a jam with Circle - who knows?

[@1adneumann]

I agree.... There WERE the peak years.

[@emilianoturazzi]

I thikn that Wheeler's solo'd deserve more praise :)

[@jeff-nz5zc]

man that bass sound, pretty heavy

[@stevetimm6773]

Such an insanely brilliant quartet!

[@Bonedalas]

One of my most favourite ensembles of all time. Many thanks!

[@Quantumlogik]

kenny wheeler running out of breath from that diabolical head lol

[@Sisyphus_But_On_Guitar]

I need some diabolical head rn

[@ianscarlett6884]

@@Sisyphus_But_On_Guitar "I need some diabolical head rn" ~mingus, 'Devil Woman'

[@johnstevenson9072]

This is a great excerpt - thanks for sharing. I was revisiting AB's Montreux/Berlin concert album (Arista) today and recall how it really opened up my ears to a really high level of ensemble playing and improvisation when I first listened to it in 1991. Braxton and cohorts Wheeler, Altschul, and Holland were intrepid sonic explorers on that magnificent album.

[@woodygould]

So interesting to hear Kenny's gorgeous tone, particularly on flugelhorn deployed on music this, uh, "astringent".

[@bobblues1158]

So Happening Swinging in an original way. My generation. Still holds up. Great Music

[@walterfoerderer4175]

Great music played by a great lineup.

[@asderc1]

Dave Holland is the man! Watch him play at the Isle of White with Miles if you doubt that.

[@brianhammer5107]

LOL! It's the "Isle of Wight" ... yankee.

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Is it not 'aisle'?

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Or even I'll?

[@jazkat56]

Wow... 9 dislikes... Go listen to Perry Como... (Sorry... "No slight to Mr. Como') Superb line up... Anything D. Holland and K. Wheeler are on is usually GREAT!!! Braxton= A brilliant explorer!

[@DGardn100]

Wow! From "Five Pieces 1975", which may have been the first jazz album I bought.

[@emilianoturazzi]

not bad as first album... I don't remember mine, but I wa luck: I had my father's library...mostly New Orleans Jazz, but also modern jazz, especially late hard bop and free. and classical, too, not too muc, but I provided it :)

[@boogiemeister9581]

This is the best

[@NoamAdder]

i saw this line up at the Painted Bride Art Centre in Philadelphia - a long interview was in the Philly Inquirer. Great link - powerful

[@jamespealing3518]

New York in the fall is a beauty as well as this.....

[@jfblanc3618]

vieillerie qui nous casse les oreilles depuis 80 ans

[@renesrensen3882]

Thanks for the upload... This is beautiful music !

[@matheusmartins2371]

Very good !

[@1957JCL]

Fantastic.

[@unityjazzfoundation4648]

All...stars!!!

[@hudsonneuro7796]

Wonderfull "freebop".

[@jfblanc3618]

grosse merde, attention ou on marche

[@paxwallacejazz]

This is the Braxton Group that's most important. Wheeler!!! Holland!!!Altschule!!!

[@CF127]

and George Lewis

[@tonymostromable]

...did Derek Bailey ever play w them ?

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

still love it!!

[@nashavelli9508]

Ovo je muzika....breeee.....!!!!!!!..... Awsome.....

[@alexs3484]

Mind blowing!

[@jfblanc3618]

au lieu de nous les gonfler, il ferait mieux de nous les vider...

[@WBradJazz]

Classic band

[@jeremyhopkins646]

Fuck, Dave Holland is amazing.

[@willhouse]

Utterly fabulous, even with that horrific piezo bass tone.

[@lucascampbell2756]

This is Opus 23E, not 40M. Great upload and recording regardless!

[@ortipianinho]

que viagem irmao

[@paxwallacejazz]

Braxton and Wheeler RIP

[@justinreich5073]

Braxton's still alive.

[@funkasiandude]

i just love how most of these musicians are had been played together since chick corea's circle lol

[@jabu003]

Braxton first great quartet !!!

[@paxwallacejazz]

Most folks don't know that chick corea could've been the foremost avant garde anyway never mind.

[@tomd3098]

Didn't he have that group, Circle, with Braxton? Can't remember who else was in it.

[@crownpropeller]

Circle = Braxton, Corea, Barry Altschul, Dave Holland

[@tomd3098]

I'm drooling just reading the lineup!

[@brianhammer5107]

He explored it, then moved to another area. It wasn't really his deep artistic motivation - he was too lyrical.

[@horowizard]

@@brianhammer5107 It might have been Chick that was quoted as saying that they call it Free Music because nobody ever got paid! When he formed Return To Forever he made it a point to write down every note he wanted to hear the musicians play. Then Light As A Feather exploded in the success that it became and he never looked back.

[@ac130kz]

can't find five pieces album(

[@funkygh]

Kenny on 🔥

[@CovertKeller]

What a great clip ! Is there more from that concert ?

[@crownpropeller]

+CovertKeller There may well be more - but not in my collection, sorry.

[@CovertKeller]

+crownpropeller Thanks for this one, and thank you for answering

[@crownpropeller]

+CovertKeller you're welcome!

[@tomd3098]

You might be familiar with the Dortmund recordings of 1976 already - same lineup, but with George Lewis on trombone instead of Kenny Wheeler's trumpet. If not, highly recommended listening!

[@ForgottenComputer]

It sounds to me like this piece is from "Five Pieces" album and is called "BOR----H (Opus 23E)", not "Composition 40M"

[@senorton]

@Forgotten Computer - close! this IS "BOR---H (etc.)", but that piece IS Composition 40M, not 23E. composition 23E is the long piece which starts slowly, right before 40M on the "Five Pieces 1975" LP.

[@William_sJazzLoft]

Love this tune. What's the name?

[@juliusseizure591]

Composition 23E

[@ugEXPLODE]

3 people voted this video down because they hate genius. LOL

[@alexanderraevsky3207]

Already 9.

[@mexufo]

3 assholes voted this video down, no music understanding.

[@YaoEspirito]

@@alexanderraevsky3207 There are a lot of Lil Nas X fans out there. True genius goes underappreciated.

[@AaaAaa-mh6zv]

@@YaoEspirito I think there is no reason to play people who make such different music out against others. It is possible to enjoy people like Lil Nas X and Anthony Braxton at the same time.

[@rubenantaglez8641]

remembers

[@jacobleblanc9549]

Unbelievable

[@chrispackhamdrums6791]

Fierce

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Do you have the entire concert? If so, PLEASE upload it as I would love to see it! Thanks ;-)

[@jfblanc3618]

Et apres cette merde, tu pue pendant six mois

[@monsterjazzlicks]

@@jfblanc3618 Can you please send this in English? Thanks.

[@rinahall]

@@monsterjazzlicks google trad = friend

[@monsterjazzlicks]

@@rinahall I have no idea what you are referring to?

[@rinahall]

@@monsterjazzlicks you are a crook fan

[@キラキラ蛇]

anyone have a chart for that line?

[@senorton]

yes, i do.

[@sterlingweston]

@@senortonshare it then pal

[@senorton]

@@sterlingweston can do. what's the best way?

[@slammajamma464]

The drums control the Swing time in Jazz. All the other musicians must lock in perfectly with the drummers time. If the Bassist cant lock in he better be looking right at the drummer and following his time until they are together. Drums have the Power.

[@jfblanc3618]

cons men ! big caca

[@MahavishnuProject]

Braxton on sax - for those who don't care about tone.

[@kreatingsound4946]

unremarkable

[@tboss8157]

Subscribed to gad saad. Opinion on the arts can safely be thrown in the trash 😂

[@jfblanc3618]

la cacophonie habituelle. Et il y en a qui s'extasient ! !

[@rinahall]

le plus grand escroc du ''jazz'' et depuis 60 ans ! Les gens sont des malades !

[@daviddiaz4716]

Jazz is just a bunch of fast note and banging noise. real players play tastefully..

[@jfblanc3618]

a band? what band? I hear oxen making the usual noise. And the oxen admire!

[@joksal9108]

Not really musical except for the bass playing.

[@LOS_NEGRITOS]

you mean they playing a long complex sequence of notes clearly planned and writen on sheets AND doing solo chops in between AND keeping both swing and rhythm going on is 'not really musical'? jesus christ.

[@joksal9108]

@@LOS_NEGRITOS Like I said, not musical. Bass player is good.

[@LOS_NEGRITOS]

@@joksal9108 i mean if music for you isnt related to composition, improvisation nor rhytmical foundations then, first off, yes, this isnt music and second, what a horrible concept of 'music' you have, lol.

[@tboss8157]

@@LOS_NEGRITOScook him. Seen plenty of what you might call ‘elitists’ try to crap on Braxton over the years, and they’ve always been wrong.

[@slammajamma464]

Absolutely no interplay between the bassist and drummer. The drummer fails to interact in rhythm with what is happening in the head. The head is where you can compose some rhythms to support various formations as acted out by the other pieces of the ensemble here. Too bad there is no group dynamics.

[@yoshiwall5870]

Cringe

[@GeoCoppens]

Awful amplified bass sound! And Braxton is badly overrated; his sound is ugly!

[@emilianoturazzi]

I agree on his sound (and on his vibrato, too), but he is a clever musician and can get it work all the same. sometimes he plays very, very well. few musicians are able to obtain such good performance even if they are not excellent instrumentalists - I think this is more important...

[@ericmalone3213]

Please introduce us to your original & outstanding music, Sir, if you're going to slight the work of Mr Braxton. I'm very interested to hear what you've accomplished that qualifies your criticism. Cheers. Thank you.

[@emilianoturazzi]

I really can't understand this kind of arguments... it doesn't fit nothing with what the other one said just intending to put him down on a personal level. One can be a good listener without being a good player. or being a good musician without being a virtuoso (Braxton's case to me) or being a good musician giving bad evalutations (see Miles Davis' on lots of his collegues ).

[@wbhrash]

You like what you like for whatever reasons.

[@RanBlakePiano]

And hear his solo on Round midnight