Help Needed With My Earliest Braxton Memory

CraigP · July-14th-2009, 10:01 AM

I believe the first time I heard Anthony Braxton was while listening to Willis Conover's Voice of America broadcast one morning before school, around '73 or '74. I had heard of Braxton, but I think this was before New York Fall 1974 came out, which was my formal introduction to his music.

The broadcast was a tape from the Newport Jazz Festival, one of those all-star jams where they play a theme, a seemingly endless parade of soloists follow, and then the theme is restated. Braxton just cut through like a knife with his uniquely angular phrasing, and he got the biggest ovation from the crowd.

Does anyone know the specifics of this performance? I don't think it's ever been released.

Pete C · July-14th-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigP

I believe the first time I heard Anthony Braxton was while listening to Willis Conover's Voice of America broadcast one morning before school, around '73 or '74. I had heard of Braxton, but I think this was before New York Fall 1974 came out, which was my formal introduction to his music.

The broadcast was a tape from the Newport Jazz Festival, one of those all-star jams where they play a theme, a seemingly endless parade of soloists follow, and then the theme is restated. Braxton just cut through like a knife with his uniquely angular phrasing, and he got the biggest ovation from the crowd.

Does anyone know the specifics of this performance? I don't think it's ever been released.

I'm pretty sure I was at that show (Newport in New York), but it was not recorded to my knowledge (the 1972 jams at Radio City, some of which I also attended, were recorded by Buddha Cobblestone). I think it was at Carnegie, and mostly straight-ahead guys other than A.B. In fact, my friends and I sat next to Braxton's in-laws (we chatted with them a bit). Not sure whether it was '73 or '74.

CraigP · July-14th-2009, 10:46 AM

Pete, you get around! Was it as impactful as I remembered it? What were the other musicians' reactions?

Pete C · July-14th-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigP

Pete, you get around! Was it as impactful as I remembered it? What were the other musicians' reactions?

I don't remember if the other musicians had any visible reaction, but the in-laws were very proud!

bigtiny · July-14th-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

I'm pretty sure I was at that show (Newport in New York), but it was not recorded to my knowledge (the 1972 jams at Radio City, some of which I also attended, were recorded by Buddha Cobblestone). I think it was at Carnegie, and mostly straight-ahead guys other than A.B. In fact, my friends and I sat next to Braxton's in-laws (we chatted with them a bit). Not sure whether it was '73 or '74.

Now that's ODD -- Buddha/Cobblestone ?!?!? Weren't they pretty much a soul/r and b label??? Anybody know what happened to THOSE tapes?

bigtiny

Tom Storer · July-14th-2009, 01:09 PM

Don't know about that show that Pete was at, but I saw a similar Braxton appearance. In 1976, there was a benefit concert for Rahsaan Roland Kirk, who had had a stroke, at some Manhattan concert hall--Radio City? Not sure. Anyway, a huge number of musicians were on hand. Count Basie and Herbie Hancock took turns on piano; Sarah Vaughan sang; Roy Haynes was there for a while, at the same time as George Duvivier and Charles Mingus played dual bass. Rahsaan made an appearance playing one-handed. There was a jam with multiple saxophonists, including Braxton but I don't remember the others. I don't know that Braxton was playing better than the straight-ahead guys, but he was sure playing differently, so he made an impression.

I've never been able to find any mention of that show. If anybody here remembers it or attended it, it would probably be Pete or else Tom Marcello...

Pete C · July-14th-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtiny

Now that's ODD -- Buddha/Cobblestone ?!?!? Weren't they pretty much a soul/r and b label??? Anybody know what happened to THOSE tapes?

bigtiny

Cobblestone was Don Schlitten's jazz imprint at Buddha after he left Prestige and before he started Muse. Joe Fields may have been involved too. The Newport in NY Jam Sessions were released on LP (individually and as a set), but never on CD. If you search torrents and blogs you just might find them.

CraigP · July-14th-2009, 01:57 PM

I remember Cobblestone had some of the ugliest album covers in the history of ever.

Pete C · July-14th-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigP

I remember Cobblestone had some of the ugliest album covers in the history of ever.

Has anybody written the history of ever?

jasonguthartz · July-14th-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Storer

Don't know about that show that Pete was at, but I saw a similar Braxton appearance. In 1976, there was a benefit concert for Rahsaan Roland Kirk, who had had a stroke, at some Manhattan concert hall--Radio City? Not sure.

Yes, Radio City -- scroll down to the July 2, 1976 entry here:
http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Artis...1971-1979.html

bigtiny · July-14th-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

Has anybody written the history of ever?

I think he meant in the history of never! =:-)

bigtiny

stereojack · July-15th-2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

Cobblestone was Don Schlitten's jazz imprint at Buddha after he left Prestige and before he started Muse. Joe Fields may have been involved too. The Newport in NY Jam Sessions were released on LP (individually and as a set), but never on CD. If you search torrents and blogs you just might find them.

Many of the Cobblestone releases later came out on Joe Fields' Muse label, but not the Newport/New York sessions. The original LP's are still pretty easy to find.

Tom Storer · July-15th-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonguthartz

Yes, Radio City -- scroll down to the July 2, 1976 entry here:
http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Artis...1971-1979.html

Thank you so much for that! According to that, I got it wrong and it wasn't Haynes playing with Mingus and Duvivier, but both Art Blakey and Tony Williams. I had forgotten the details of that concert--Bill Evans with Konitz, Marsh, Gomez and Elvin Jones?! Goddamn. Sarah and Dizzy I remember, it was magnificent. Didn't remember Freddie Hubbard making an appearance. I would kill for a tape of that concert.

CraigP · July-15th-2009, 10:23 AM

Based on that sessionography, I must have heard the 1976 Radio City concert Tom Storer was at, although Pete C might be remembering a different show, albeit one that's not listed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

Has anybody written the history of ever?

The history of ever is a neverending story! (cue the Limahl song...)