Anthony Braxton

about

Anthony Braxton (born June 4, 1945) is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinetist, flautist, pianist and philosopher. He has created a large body of highly complex work. Braxton is one of the most prolific American musicians/composers to date, having released well over 100 albums since the 1960s. Among the vast array of instruments he utilizes are the flute; the sopranino, soprano, C-Melody, F alto, E-flat alto, baritone, bass, and contrabass saxophones; and the E-flat, B-flat, and contrabass clarinets. Braxton's music is difficult to categorize, and because of this, he likes to reference his works (and the works of his collaborators and students) as simply "creative music." He has claimed in numerous interviews that he is not a jazz musician, though many of his works have been jazz and improvisation oriented, and he has released many albums of jazz standards. In addition to these, Braxton has released an increasing number of works for large-scale orchestras, including two opera cycles. Braxton's music is highly theoretical and mystically influenced, and he is the author of multiple volumes explaining his theories and pieces—such as the philosophical three-volume Triaxium Writings and the five-volume Composition Notes, both published by Frog Peak Music. While his compositions and improvisations can be characterized as avant-garde, many of his pieces have a swing feel and rhythmic angularity that are overtly indebted to Charlie Parker and the Bebop tradition. Braxton is

top songs

albums

For Alto

19 [Solo] Compositions, 1988

New York, Fall 1974

Six Monk's Compositions

Dortmund (Quartet) 1976

20 Standards (Quartet) 2003

Five Pieces (1975)

9 Standards: Quartet, 1993

saxophone improvisation series f (cd2)

3 Compositions of New Jazz

19 [Solo] Compositions

23 Standards (Quartet) 2003

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