Search - Anthony Braxton :: Four Compositions (Quartet) 1983

Searching for a new methodology

Shay M. Wills | Tucson, AZ USA | 04/27/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Braxton had finished with his great quartet of the 70's a few years earlier that included George Lewis, but had not created his next great quartet with Crispell, Dresser, and Hemingway. So this quartet has a mix of old and new faces. Hemingway would be Braxton's drummer for a decade after this. Lewis was back for one last hurrah with Braxton. Unfortunately, there is no hurrah here. The opener, Comp. 105A meanders for almost twenty minutes. Lewis always sounded like he ought to be hanging off of a tailgate playing funeral marches in New Orleans: it is his soloing that is the most impressive here, above that of the leader. The range of slurs and growls Lewis creates is astonishing. Lindberg is fine in support. At times on each of the tunes, you have the impression that everyone is waiting for something to happen instead of creating an event. An average effort."