Small Ensemble Music (Wesleyan) 1994

Small Ensemble Music (Wesleyan) 1994 is a live album by composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton with a rotating group of musicians forming trios, a duo and sextet, recorded at Wesleyan University in 1994 and released on the Italian Splasc(H) label.[1][2][3]

Small Ensemble Music (Wesleyan) 1994
Live album by
Released1999
RecordedNovember 18, 1994
VenueCrowell Concert Hall, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
GenreJazz
Length57:12
LabelSplasc(H)
CDH 801.2
ProducerGiorgio Mortarino
Anthony Braxton chronology
Knitting Factory (Piano/Quartet) 1994, Vol. 2
(1994)
Small Ensemble Music (Wesleyan) 1994
(1999)
Composition No. 173
(1994)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
All About Jazz     [5]

The Allmusic review by Steve Loewy stated "this CD fills an important gap in the work of Braxton by focusing on his non-quartet work of the mid-90s. Actually taken from a single concert of duo, trio, and quartet performances, the compositions are characteristically complex, though absorbingly and fascinatingly so. While the level of his classic quartet recordings is hard to beat, these small groups give a different view of the composer/performer – one laced with abstraction and densely layered harmonies".[4] On All About Jazz Glenn Astarita noted "Throughout, the musicians spew forth-fascinating themes that often convey a sense of fragility or innocence yet with Braxton, we tend to gaze in wonderment at the end results".[5]

Track listing

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All compositions by Anthony Braxton.

  1. "Trio Improvisation" – 8:53
  2. "Composition N° 107" – 20:24
  3. "Duo Improvisation" – 6:42
  4. "Three Compositions for Sextet: Composition N° 44 (108D+96)+168/Composition N° 136/Composition N° 43 +(96)+168" – 21:23

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Anthony Braxton discography accessed June 13, 2017
  2. ^ Enciclopedia del Jazz: Anthony Braxton accessed June 13, 2017
  3. ^ World Series Splasc(H) Records Catalog accessed June 13, 2017
  4. ^ a b Loewy, Steve. Small Ensemble Music (Wesleyan) 1994 – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Astarita, G. All About Jazz Review accessed June 13, 2017