Anthony Braxton

United States

Listen

About

Sound in a sentence: "The intricate interplay of dissonance and harmony creates an unpredictable yet captivating tension that invites active engagement from listeners."

Anthony Braxton's impact on the music landscape extends far beyond traditional boundaries, reshaping how listeners engage with sound and improvisation. His work challenges the conventions of jazz and explores new dimensions of operatic expression, creating a space for audiences to reconsider their relationship with music as an art form. Through his innovative compositions and performances, he has opened pathways for both musicians and listeners to navigate complex sonic landscapes, fostering a deeper appreciation for abstraction in musical dialogue. Braxton's approach is characterized by a deep commitment to exploration and experimentation, utilizing a variety of instruments, extended techniques, and unconventional structures. This willingness to push against the edges of form allows him to create immersive experiences that draw from the past but are firmly rooted in the present. His performances often blur the lines between composition and improvisation, inviting spontaneity while maintaining a rigorous framework that challenges performers and captivates audiences. Lyrically, when he incorporates vocal elements, Braxton often delves into themes of identity, culture, and the essence of sound itself, using a tone that ranges from thoughtful to confrontational. His storytelling tends to be impressionistic rather than linear, allowing for personal interpretations that resonate differently with each listener; irony mingles with sincerity as he navigates complex emotional territories.

Anthony Braxton

Listen

About

Connect

Discography

Albums ()

Quartet (England) 1985

Solo Bern 1984: First Visit

Sax QT (Lorraine) 2022

10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022

Duo (DCWM) 2013

19 Standards (Quartet) 2003

Old Dogs

Quartet (Mestre) 2008

Beyond Quantum

Solo (Pisa) 1982

Trio (Victoriaville) 2007

Ninetet

Black Vomit

Duo (Victoriaville) 2005

Composition No. 175 / Composition No. 126: Trillium Dialogues M

Ninetet

20 Standards (Quartet) 2003

Duo Palindrome 2002. Vol. 2

Duo Palindrome 2002. Vol. 1

Six Standards

23 Standards (Quartet) 2003

Two Compositions (Trio) 1998

Four Compositions (GTM) 2000

Ninetet

Ninetet

Quintet (Basel) 1977

Knitting Factory (Piano/Quartet) 1994, Vol. 2

Small Ensemble Music

Composition No. 94 for Three Instrumentalists

Solo (Skopje) 1995

Four Compositions (Quartet) 1995

Ensemble

10 Compositions (Duet) 1995

Composition No. 173

2 Compositions (Järvenpää) 1988

Sextet (Istanbul) 1996

Anthony Braxton's Charlie Parker Project 1993

Seven Standards 1995

Solo Piano

Knitting Factory (Piano/Quartet) 1994, Vol. 1

Trio (London) 1993

4 (Ensemble) Compositions 1992

Quartet (Coventry) 1985

Anthony Braxton's Charlie Parker Project

Duets

Duo (London) 1993

Willisau (Quartet) 1991

Duets: Hamburg 1991

Ensemble (Victoriaville) 1988

2 Compositions (Ensemble) 1989/1991

Dortmund (Quartet) 1976

Quartet (Birmingham) 1985

Eight (+3) Tristano Compositions, 1989: For Warne Marsh

Compositions 99, 101, 107 & 139

Seven Compositions

Zurich Concerts

Six Monk's Compositions

Five Compositions (Quartet) 1986

Anthony Braxton / Robert Schumann String Quartet

Seven Standards

Composition 113

Six Compositions

Four Compositions (Quartet) 1983

Six Compositions: Quartet

For Two Pianos

Open Aspects '82

Six Duets

Performance (Quartet) 1979

Composition 98

Alto Saxophone Improvisations 1979

Seven Compositions 1978

For Trio

For Four Orchestras

The Montreux/Berlin Concerts