DAVE HOLLAND QUARTET & ANTHONY BRAXTON QUARTET "ANTIBES '74 & CHATEAUVALLON '73"

Two excellent concert films. (maybe the two shows aren't complete but surely worth your attention)

The first group is obviously the quartet which recorded the wonderful album "Conference of the Birds" for ECM. The album was recorded on November 30, 1972 in New York. So the concert in France was more than a half year later. Several themes of the LP are easily discernible.
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For the second ensemble I've found the following description.

Details from Coda 12/73 p.34.
"They played a suite especially written for this occasion. A piece that showed some of the aspects in the music of the multidirectional Anthony Braxton. Wheeler and Braxton matched each other beautifully, Wheeler is a musician who has much in common with Braxton, an intellectual player with a cool sound and a good ear for Braxton's intricate written lines. Their performance ended with a bebop-like tune, and drummer Bobo Shaw (from Black Artists Group from St. Louis, BAG) who throughout the piece had revealed himself as a very musical and inventive drummer, kept the music on fire." (Ib Skovgaard Petersen)

[Some discographies claim other days (23rd f.e.) for the Braxton Quartet but I stick with what's given in the TV production, although the menu gives 1974 which is - obviously - incorrect]

During this concert we have the first performances of Braxton's "Composition No. 23B" and "Composition No. 23D".



Dave Holland Quartet - Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, 1974

Anthony Braxton, reeds
Sam Rivers, reeds
Dave Holland, double bass
Barry Altschul, drums

Recorded July 25, 1974.

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Anthony Braxton Quartet - Chateauvallon, 1973

Amthony Braxton, reeds
Kenny Wheeler, trumpet, flugelhorn
J.F. Jenny Clarke, double bass
Charles Bobo Shaw, drums

Recorded August, 25, 1973

PAUL BLEY TRIO ‎– BLOOD (FONTANA, 1966)

A1. Blood
A2. Albert's Love Theme
A3. El Cordobes
A4. Only Sweetly
A5. Seven

B1. Mister Joy
B2. Ramblin'
B3. Kid Dynamite
B4. Nothing Ever Was, Anyway
B5. Pig Foot


Paul Bley, piano
Mark Levinson, bass
Barry Altschul, drums


Recorded in Baarn, Holland on September 21 and October 4, 1966

Repress on Fontana, Japan - SFON-7098

LP Rip

Thanks Paul

NDR JAZZ WORKSHOP NO.41 - CARLA BLEY & JCOA (1965)

...upon request    :-)

Michael Mantler, trumpet
Steve Lacy, soprano saxophone
Prince Lasha, alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet
Hans Koller, tenor saxophone
Ronnie Ross, baritone saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet
Attila Zoller, guitar
Carla Bley, piano
Paul Bley, piano
Kent Carter, bass
Barry Altschul, drums
Hans Gertberg, announcement


Disc 1

1. Touching (A. Peacock)                  05:36
Paul Bley, Carter, Altschul

2. Both (A. Peacock)                          05:29
Mantler, Lacy, Koller, Paul Bley, Carter, Altschul

3. Unknown Title (fragment)                  00:05

4. Isis (C. Bley)                          07:18
Mantler, Lacy, Koller, Paul Bley, Carter, Altschul

5. Cartoon (A. Peacock)                  08:59
Mantler, Lacy, Lasha, Koller, Ross, Paul Bley, Zoller, Carter, Altschul

6. Walking Battery Woman (C. Bley)          03:43
Mantler, Lacy, Carla Bley, Carter, Altschul

7. Communication No. 7 (M. Mantler)          06:30
Mantler, Lacy, Lasha, Koller, Ross, Paul Bley, Zoller, Carter, Altschul

8. Slow Dance (C. Bley)                  07:34
Mantler, Lacy, Lasha, Koller, Ross, Paul Bley, Zoller, Carter, Altschul

9. Closer (C. Bley)                          07:51
Mantler, Lacy, Zoller, Carla Bley, Carter, Altschul

10. Doctor (C. Bley)                          08:10
Mantler, Lacy, Zoller, Carla Bley, Carter, Altschul

Disc 2

1. Introduction (Hans Gertberg)          02:14

2. Floater (C. Bley)                          08:24
Mantler, Lacy, Lasha, Koller, Ross, Paul Bley, Zoller, Carter, Altschul

3. Communication No. 11 (M. Mantler)          11:57
Mantler, Lacy, Lasha, Koller, Ross, Carla Bley, Zoller, Carter, Altschul

4. Closer (C. Bley) (inc (fade out))          05:37
Mantler, Lacy, Zoller, Paul Bley, Carter, Altschul

TT ~ 90:00


Recorded at Studio 10, Grosser Sendesaal des NDR Funkhauses, Hamburg on October 29, 1965.
Produced by Hans Gertberg.

NDR JAZZ WORKSHOP NO.69 - JOHN SURMAN & FRIENDS "CONFLAGRATION" (1970)

Kenny Wheeler, trumpet, fluegelhorn
Albert Mangelsdorff, trombone
Eje Thelin, trombone
John Surman, soprano and baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
Mike Osborne, alto saxophone
Anthony Braxton, alto & sopranino saxophone, contrabass clarinet
Alan Skidmore, tenor saxophone
Chick Corea, piano
Dave Holland, bass
Barre Phillips, bass
Stu Martin, drums
Barry Altschul, drums, percussion


1. Conflagration (B. Phillips)             14:04
   Solos: Skidmore; Mangelsdorff/Corea; Martin/Altschul; Surman (ss)/Wheeler

2. 6s and 7s (B. Phillips)             12:28
   Solos: Phillips; Surman (bs); Wheeler; Braxton; Skidmore; Mangelsdorff
 
3. B (S. Martin)                     10:40
   Solos: Altschul; Mangelsdorff

4. Malachite (J. Surman)             12:26
   Solos: Skidmore; Surman (bs); Mangelsdorff/Osborne; Braxton (cbcl); Corea

5. Coins (C. Corea) (inc)             02:56
6. Causes Are Events (K. Wheeler)     16:24
   Solos: Mangelsdorff; Braxton (as); Corea

7. Sometime Ago (C. Corea) (inc)     16:32
   Solos: Braxton (sss); Corea; Wheeler

Recorded at Studio 10, Grosser Sendesaal des NDR Funkhauses, Hamburg on November 27, 1970.

Paul Bley Trio-Canada 1968

For an Australian friend...
A great Paul Bley trio session, put out by radio Canada international transcription service, recorded in Montreal in December 68, i believe this was Bley's last  entirely acoustic release from the sixties and for some time until ECM'S, Open to Love, last in a glorious sequence spanning ten or so indispensable records, and one of the few which has never made it to cd ..

Four great tunes by Annette Peacock , his wife at the time, with Mario Pavone's only stint in Bleys acoustic trio.
 For some inexplicable reason this album is not mentioned In the Paul Bley entry on the Jazz discographies project site.
this album's been posted as mp3's at lucky psychic hut , and may well still be available somewhere in that format.
Bley's website, a rich source of articles , interviews and home of  the IAI label

Sam Rivers,with Paul Bley&Scorpio, Studio Rivbea, NYC 1972

An important document of an otherwise unrecorded line-up, the sound is atmospheric and very listenable for a tape recording of its vintage...
thanks to the Taper/Sharers !!
BTW the Last very promising Track Cuts out after just 3 minutes.. if anyone has the longer version referred to in the Rick Lopez Sam Rivers Sessionography (see seeders info below) , we would love to hear it!
Enjoy!

Seeders Notes
Sam Rivers w/Paul Bley and Scorpio
Studio Rivbea
NY, NY
December 1972
aud>?>reel>cdr>eac(secure mode)>flac(level 6)

total time 56:13

1 unknown (tape flip) 45:32
2 unknown continued 7:41
3 unknown (fades out) 3:03

Sam Rivers - tenorand  soprano saxophones,  flute, voice
Paul Bley - electric piano, ARP synthesizer
Dave Holland - bass
Barry Altschul - drums

Rick Lopez' site lists a longer version...anyone got that to share?
http://www.bb10k.com/RIVERS.disc.html#72.12.00-1

Anthony Braxton - The Complete Braxton 1971

I think there was a request for this album some time ago.

Anthony Braxton - The Complete Braxton 1971

1 Up Thing 4:35 (a)
2 Quartet Ballad 16:35 (b)
3 March 5:15 (b)
4 Four Sopranos 15:00
5 Be Bop (b) 9:47
6 Five Tubas (c) 8:01
7 Soprano Ballad (a) 14:32
8 Contra Basse 6:18

Anthony Braxton - soprano, alto saxophones, clarinet, contrabass clarinet, flute
(a) Chick Corea - piano
(b) Kenny Wheeler - trumpet, flugelhorn; David Holland - bass, cello; Barry Altschul - drums
(c) The London Tuba Ensemble: Geoffrey Adams, James Anderson, John Fletcher, Michael Barnes - e flat tubas, Paul Lawrence - c tuba

Tokuma Japan Communications / Freedom 32JDF-185 (CD 1988)

Barry Altschul - Live in Pisa '79

The first in a series dedicated to the percussionists.

Rec. live in Pisa, Italy, on June 27, 1979
(mics recording)

Barry Altschul,percussion

1. Solo #1 (18:11)
2. Solo #2 (11:26)
3. Solo #3 (10:10)

Total Time 39:49

excerpt from Solo #1

Barry Altschul Trio - Live in Moers '79

Full version of a concert published years ago by Moers Music
with some cuts, due to the time limits of the vinyl.

Rec. live at the 8th Moers Jazz Festival, Moers, Germany,
on Saturday, June 2nd, 1979 (mics recording)

Barry Altschul,drums,percussion
Ray Anderson,trombone
Mark Helias,bass

1. The Complete Performance (58:28)
2. Encore (03:43)

Total Time 1:02:11

Encore

Anthony Braxton Quartet - Live in Antibes '75

A classic among the historical lineup of A.Braxton.

Rec. live in Antibes, France, on July 25, 1975
(mics recording)

Anthony Braxton,alto & sopranino saxes,clarinet,
contrabass clarinet,flute
Kenny Wheeler,trumpet,flugelhorn
Dave Holland,bass
Barry Altschul,drums

1. Compositions 23 (51:57)
2. See-Saw [encore] (09:44)

Total Time 1:01:41

Encore

Paul Bley Trio - Live in Pisa '79

A reunion of the mid-'60s P.Bley's trio : a rare occasion for
listening again the great Kent Carter together with P.Bley
and B.Altschul.
(i've titled track 1 "Ictus", but this is clearly a medley)

Rec. live at "Teatro Giardino Scotto", Pisa, Italy,
on June 28, 1979 (mics recording)

Paul Bley,piano
Kent Carter,bass
Barry Altschul,drums

1. Ictus (18:57)
2. King Korn (37:19)

Total Time 56:16

Quartet Circle "Circulus" (United Artists, 1978, 2LP)

This one as to be considered a gem. At least that's my opinion. Quartet Circle was a brief quartet with four astounding players: Chick Corea, Anthony Braxton, Dave Holland and Barry Altschul. As far as i know, this group recorded and edited 4 double Lps to United Artists, end of 60's beginning 70's. Nobody knows why but the luminaries at UA never considered reissue those albuns on CD, so they remained forgotten, which is incredible due to the high quality of the music.

Quartet Circle features Chick Corea as you never heard him before and after (at least for those who don't know this group). Partners Braxton, Holland and Altschul are in high avant-garde shape with ideas and playing far from being conventional. The interplay between the quartet is amazingly top quality avant garde free music. One might expect that due to subsequent Corea's career this couldn't be possible, but it was.



About "Circulus":

double gatefold LP
United Artists, 1978


side one: "Drone" (track 1)
(trio without Braxton, recorded April 8, 1970, New York)


side two: "Quartet Piece No. 1" (track 2)
(quartet, recorded August 21, 1970, New York)


side three: "Quartet Piece No. 2" (track 3)
(quartet, recorded August 21, 1970, New York)


side four: "Quartet Piece No. 3" (track 4)
"Percussion Piece" (track 5)
(quartet, recorded August 21, 1970, New York)



Chick Corea: piano, prepared piano, vibes, percussion, bass marimba
Anthony Braxton: alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, contrabass clarinet
Dave Holland: bass, guitar, percussion
Barry Altschul: drums, percussion, bass marimba


About the transfer:
recorded directly from the vinyl to DAT record to audio CD through CD recording (not PC).
From CD to lossless Flac files. Crisp and clean as you can hear on the deepness and colourful music. On last flac file you'll find high quality scans of outer and inner sleeves from the gatefold LP. Hope you enjoy it.

Circle - Gathering

Recorded in the studio in NYC 17th March 1971. 

Chick Corea, piano, flute, percussion

Anthony Braxton, alto, flute, sopranino, clarinet, contrabass-clarinet, percussion

Dave Holland, bass, cello, guitar, percussion

Barry Altschul, drums, kalimba, percussion.  

The second of two Circle releases which were inexplicably issued only in Japan, initially on vinyl and later on CD.  As before, if anyone can throw some light on why this music was never issued in Europe or the US, the information would be very welcome.  This rip is taken from the original Japanese vinyl, CBS Sony SOPL 20-XJ.  

The performance is a single two-sided composition credited to Corea alone, and if any listener can sense a line drawn between one man's composition and four men's improvisation, he's a better man than I.    The piece opens with much of the heat and intensity associated with the free jazz of 1971, with Altschul especially taking few prisoners, before the quartet veers off into extended flute and percussion workouts, a certain amount of navel-gazing and a question-mark of an ending.   Perhaps Corea's own words, from the liner notes, best sum the piece up:  "Our music is a focal point, constantly created anew, with each playing. … It is our opinion that creativity will play an important role (maybe the important role) in lifting our consciousness about ourselves and others. …  When we are alive in the fullest sense of the word, we are creating".  

Enjoy.  
 

glmlr 

Circle - Live in German Concert

Recorded in Germany, 28^th November 1970, location not specified.

(The record is indeed grammatically mis-titled, as above).  

Chick Corea, piano

Anthony Braxton, alto, flute, sopranino, percussion

Dave Holland, bass, cello

Barry Altschul, drums, percussion.  

The first of two Circle releases which were inexplicably issued only in Japan, initially on vinyl and much later on CD.   Why this music was never issued in Europe or the US is a mystery to me.  Can anyone throw some light on this?   This rip is taken from the original Japanese vinyl, CBS Sony SOPL 19-XJ.  

By early September 1970, Corea and Holland had both left Miles' adventurously electric band, and quickly settled into acoustic free jazz territory.   After a brief studio fling which  month which produced "The Sun" LP (with Liebman, Grossman, DeJohnette and others),  they cemented themselves with Braxton and Altschul, and Circle became the focus of their joint activities over the following 9 months.  This concert features two side-long Circle staples:  Dave Holland's "Toy Room - Q&A" and the standard "There is No Greater Love".  Both pieces will be familiar to Circle fans but, as ever, these interpretations are intriguingly different. Classic Circle trademarks are all here in good form:  Corea's propulsive piano, Braxton's Chicago-inflected blues, Holland's melodic hold on the roots and Altschul's meticulously tuned percussion.   And there's a little "fly in the ointment" - on side B behind Braxton's alto solo, either Corea or Holland double up with him on …  flute?  oboe?  musette?    A teaser for your ears.  

Enjoy. 
 
 

glmlr 

Circle - Hamburg, March 1971 - complete concert

From our friend glmlr comes this marvellous Circle concert from Hamburg in 1971, together with this detailed write-up;

Circle was a band born in a pressure-cooker. During its brief existence (roughly mid-70 / mid-71), it played with an anarchic flair and a reckless drive, rare for that time. Chick Corea and Dave Holland were coming off a 2-year stay with Miles Davis, in which they were his first ever full-time white band members, amid the Black Power era. Driven by Jack DeJohnette, they took the music more out than at any time in Miles' life. Said Corea, "We kept pushing and playing free, waiting for Miles to say something about it. He never did, so we pushed harder". Said Miles of Corea, "Just look at the guy. Music is pouring out of him".
In May 1969, this trio had been the core of Corea's raucous "Is" sessions", (thankfully reissued properly in 2002 on a Blue Note 2CD). Hard blowing, uninterrupted, free-form, open-ended improvisations and compositions. Then, enter drummer Barry Altschul, a master of pulse and miniaturized mayhem on his carefully tuned percussion. A man who could float 60's Paul Bley on the most delicate of gauze, yet drive a powerful free-jazz quartet with the most minuscule of sounds. In April 70, the trio of Corea, Holland and Altschul recorded "The Song of Singing", a studio session which still rings with a freshness and an inherent energy which refute its years. August 70, while Corea and Holland were still Miles' sidemen, enter Anthony Braxton. Wildcard. A man with a musical conception which threatened never to allow him to be anyone's sideman, and the inventor of a musically philosophical verbal jargon understood by few members of the human race. But Circle was a co-operative band, and the four members adapted fast. The music which happened in the studio suggested serious connections to the European avant-garde or the modern classical of the time, as much as free jazz. Live, anything could happen.
The recordings. Shamefully Blue Note has not issued on CD much of the band's first recorded session with Braxton, 21 August 70, (which appeared on the "Circulus" 2LP under Corea's name), whereas much of the October 70 session (originally issued as "Circling In" also under Corea's name) has appeared on the "Early Circle" CD. In January 71, the trio without Braxton recorded the superbly crisp "A.R.C." in a German studio. Mysteriously, two other Circle LP's were issued only in Japan, one a German concert of 28 November 70, the other a New York studio session from 17 March 71. An excerpt also exists of a heated concert given in Bergamo on 19 March 71.
Live performance was Circle's forte. The finest recorded evidence is the "Paris Concert" of 21 February 71, issued first as a 2LP, then 2CD, by ECM. A vivid, thorny, raw document of the band in full-flight, whether on standards such as Wayne Shorter's "Nefertiti" or on Holland's own intricate twinning of "Toy Room" and "Q&A". For those old enough to remember, in 1971 this was daring music.
Looking back, it was perhaps inevitable that this band would blow itself off the stage. Stories circulated of Corea breaking a glass onstage and rubbing the microphone into the shards, band-members taking to playing any instrument at random, Holland scraping the bass strings and his chest with the mic, much use of small percussion and, in the end, a sense of alienation took over. When the band finally ground to a halt, Corea said, "We were sending our audiences up the river… ". And thus the bubble burst.

But here's the band, very much alive and well in Hamburg in early March 1971, courtesy of NDR German radio. With humble thanks to the unknown recordist / source, may you enjoy.

glmlr

Circle - Live at the Jazzhaus, Hamburg
3 or 4 or 5 March 1971
Anthony Braxton - alto saxophone, sopranino saxophone, clarinet, flute
Chick Corea - piano
Dave Holland - bass
Barry Altschul - drums, percussion

1. Composition 6A - 23:17 (Anthony Braxton)
2. Rhymes - 08:10 (Chick Corea)
3. Toy Room - 07:30 (Dave Holland)
4. Q & A - 11:04 (Dave Holland)
5. Composition 6I - 22:57 (Anthony Braxton)
6. Composition 6F - 10:25 (Anthony Braxton)
7. There Is No Greater Love - 25:03 (Marty Symes, Isham Jones)
Recorded and broadcast by NDR - Norddeutscher Rundfunk.
Discographical information from Circle Discography: http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Artists/Corea/circle-disc.htm