Search - Anthony Braxton :: Six Monk Compositions 1987

Tackling the High Priest Himself

N. Dorward | Toronto, ON Canada | 12/08/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the most approachable of Anthony Braxton's discs. It's a fine band he's assembled, with Mal Waldron on piano, Buell Neidlinger on bass & Bill Osborne on drums. The choice of material is refreshingly unobvious: "Brilliant Corners", "Ask Me Now", "Played Twice", "Four in One", "Reflections" & "Skippy". (It's curious, by the way, to note that the album shares two musicians--Waldron & Neidlinger--and most of the Monk compositions with Steve Lacy's classic 1960s Prestige date _Reflections_.) Braxton's in peppy form here, & Waldron an utterly authentic Monkian. I do have some reservations: Braxton's playing, here as more damagingly so on other post-1970s recordings, is prolix & entirely athematic: it has little cumulative structure. The solo on "Skippy" for instance goes on and on.... Waldron certainly could have used more much generously apportioned solo-space. Yet it's hard to cavil too much: this is a fun album, one of the best Monk tributes I've heard."

Anthony Braxton tackles Monk

Anthony Cooper | Louisville, KY United States | 10/15/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Anthony Braxton is best-known for his unique and knotty compositions, but he sometimes interprets classic jazz songs. "Six Monk's Compositions (1987)" does just as its title implies. The six songs aren't the most often-played Monk songs, but you can find examples of other artists doing each of the six. Braxton gathers Mal Waldron, no stranger to Monk interpretations, Buell Neidlinger on bass, and Bill Osborne on drums. When Braxton plays someones else's songs, he keeps the song recognizable, but there's always something pleasingly different about the songs. Braxton plays alto throughout (I think), and plays magnificently. Waldron, Neidlinger, and Osborn are at the top of their game as well. Like most tribute albums, this isn't essential, but it's a good album on the strength of the playing and improvising.

"