The availability of these 40 year old recordings from a living, historic jazz figure leading one of his best ensembles is great way to mark Anthony Braxton’s 80th birthday.

‘live at pioneer works, 26 october 2023’ by Wolf Eyes and Anthony Braxton is a splendidly spontaneous live capture of towering figures of avant-garde jazz and underground noise music.

As Anthony Braxton continues to push forward one of America’s greatest art forms, he also takes opportunities to demonstrate just how jazz got to be so great.

There might not be a better vehicle for the genius of Anthony Braxton than Anthony Braxton himself, but in tackling a few choice selections of his material, Thumbscrew revealed further facets of his ingenuity just in how they use those compositions to take his vision to new places.

Here is a review of an expanded reissue of the 1974 recording ‘Trio And Duet,’ exploring two sides of avant-garde great Anthony Braxton.

He passed on way back in 1993, but the earth – no … the universe – still misses him.

Battles hears no formal divide between the avant-garde and the mainstream. I wish more bands felt the same way.

Ideal Bread have made a career of lovingly presenting the music of the great Steve Lacy. On their previous records, The Ideal Bread and Transmit, the group trafficked in more or less straight readings of Lacy’s music. You May Also Like: Adam Hopkins’ Crickets, “Grounded” (2023): Something Else! One TrackRead More

Many years ago, I made a mix tape specifically for use on long drives in my pickup truck. No, it was not filled with country music. You May Also Like: Fred Frith + Ikue Mori – ‘A Mountain Doesn’t Know It’s Tall’ (2021) Grand Funk – Shinin’ On (1974; 2017Read More

I came to this particular record not from Coltrane or from Wilco, but from Anthony Braxton. You May Also Like: Wilco (The Album) echoed, but didn’t quite live up to Sky Blue Sky Ben Goldberg, Nels Cline + Tom Rainey – ‘The Art Spirit, Live at the Owl Music Parlor’Read More