This April, 2003 concert at Tonic in New York City reunited two musicians whose careers began closely interlinked in the '60s. I'd felt for a long time that Smith's influence over the compositional style of the young Braxton was quite strong and the first piece here, by the trumpeter, bears that out a little bit. "Tawaf" employs the sort of long, held tones interspersed with rapid, fluttering upheavals that Braxton has long made part of his conceptual arsenal. It's a fine example of two non-chordal instruments easily occupying the aural space; younger musicians still have a thing or two to learn from these old masters.
Smith's compositions are sandwiched around two of Braxton's, Nos. 314 and 315. As with other of his recent works, I hear no overt connection to his Ghost Trance Music, though I have little idea whether or not he still considers it such or if he's moved on into some further form. "314" actually sounds pretty much improvised, meandering and sliding along gracefully enough, the two musicians engaged in sometimes rambunctious conversation before ending in similar territory to the piece before. The next piece also sounds as though, at best, any actual structure is only sketched, but it's an impressively aggressive work, Braxton's guttural alto often framed against the warm, almost melodious tones of Smith. It's probably the most satisfying track on the disc, the two conversing easily, closing in cuddly enough quarters to make the listener feel wrapped in one of Braxton's cardigans. This, of course, could be read as a criticism and it should be said that the patina of excitement, of hurtling into the unknown that was encountered in prior collaborations, such as the wondrous side from "Trio and Duet" on Sackville, is simply not part of the deal anymore. Depending on the listener's frame of mind, it could be enough, more than enough, to hear the two reunited and playing with clear fondness and sensitivity. I suspect for most it will be.
Comments and Feedback:
|
