Search - Max Roach, Anthony Braxton :: Birth & Rebirth

Two jazz giants. One great cd.

Jeff Delfield | 06/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an essential jazz purchase. A full album of duets between reeds and drums simply do not come around very often, and certainly not of this magnitude (David Murray/Milford Graves - "Real Deal" recalls this recording). Though I love Braxton's soloing, this is definitely a Roach album. His drumming goes beyond "inventive." It amazes and astounds with explosive subtlety. On "Birth and Rebirth" one wonders if the drum may have been invented just for Roach. Okay, enough of the superlatives - throughout Braxton is also amazing and most often plays alto sax, but switches to clarinet and sopranino sax for a few cuts. Though the two title cuts ("Birth" and "Rebirth") that book-end the set are intense listens, the pair lighten up on the gem "Softshoe.""