Marilyn Tiled

The
Marilyn Crispell
Sessionography
Marilyn Tiled
A work in progress,
by Rick Lopez.

Document begun October 31, 1997

UPDATES

June 7, 2008

Photo by Lora Denis.

The Deep Digging; The Incantations;
The Inspirations; All These Words...

Tour and concert info at Marilyn Crispell's Web-site.


The coming Anthony Braxton Sessionography,
and the AnthonyBraxtonProject Research Group.

 • You'll find 17 CDs worth of spectacular music listed here by the Anthony Braxton Quartet, with Crispell, Hemingway, and Dresser (or Lindberg). An invaluable guide to this telepathic quartet's music is Graham Lock's Forces In Motion, available from Amazon and elsewhere. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

• I also HIGHLY recommend the invaluable, definitive, and graphically elegant Anthony Braxton Discography by Francesco Martinelli, a volume which I have enthusiastically referenced for each of this ensemble's sessions.
Available now on CD-Rom from Felmay Distribution.

• Further info on the Quartet:
Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Foundation site.
Gerry Hemingway's Nagual Music site.


Here is a brief list of Thanks to those who assisted in the formative years of this document. Other CREDITS for assistance received since the early years are contained within each session entry. In addition, a few generous individuals have done a great deal of actual work to add detail to this research, especially Eddy Jansens of Brussels, Belgium, and Timo Hoyer of Kassel, Germany.

Finally, this massive document, such as it is, would be far less significant and accurate without
the tireless vigilance and loving attention of Mr. Kevin C. White of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.

I am beyond grateful.


Detail Search and Questions, Questions...
Missing Items, Eye-crossing Mysteries, Confusing Tidbits.


Marilyn Crispell Interview "Who can afford radicalism here?" from der Jazzmythos New York.


MUSIC COLLECTION Sale List


Session List :::


All sessions linked below are to detailed entries for recorded media.
Also listed in chronological order within this sessionography and its session entries are play-dates with no known recorded media.
I would appreciate notice of any club dates, concert dates, festival dates, etcetera, that are not listed here.
Please include reference information (i.e. periodical name, issue date, page number), along with any and all relevant details.

1980's

1990's

The 21st Century...

78.05.10 • Anthony Braxton Creative Orchestra [Rehearsal Recording

May 12, 1978 / Großer Sendesaal WDR Radio, Köln, Germany

"Direct WDR Mix"
  1. unknown titles [ : ]
"tapes were made by me on a Nakamichi 550. I was a member of the orchestra and played vibraphone on all the recordings. The mics were placed within the orchestra so some of the mixes are unusual. Most are very good..." —Bobby Naughton

Anthony Braxton (Conductor / Compositions)
Dwight Andrews, Marty Ehrlich, Vinny Golia, J. D. Parran, Ned Rothenberg (reeds)
Rob Howard, Michael Mossman, Leo Smith, Kenny Wheeler (trumpet)
Ray Anderson, George Lewis (trombone)
James King Roosa (tuba)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Robert Ostertag (synthesizer)
Brigit Taubhorn (accordion)
Bobby Naughton (vibes)
James Emery (electric guitar)
John Lindberg, Brian Smith (bass)
Thurman Barker (percussion; marimba)

{Primary Source: Bobby Naughton 05.06.14} Not in my collection.

78.05.12 • Anthony Braxton: Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978

hat ART CD 2-6171 (2CD) 1995 SWI May 12, 1978 / Großer Sendesaal WDR Radio, Köln, Germany
  1. Language Improvisations [14:34]
  2. Composition 55 [12:27]
  3. Composition 45 [25:21]
  4. Composition 59 [21:45]
  5. Composition 51 [17:19]
  6. Composition 58 [12:56]
"...the titles for each concert are the same as this CD but with widely different renditions of the pieces. The personnel is the same as well but on one or two dates Braxton added a second drummer and another trombonist..." —Bobby Naughton correspopndence 05.07.07

Anthony Braxton (Conductor / Compositions)
Dwight Andrews, Marty Ehrlich, Vinny Golia, J. D. Parran, Ned Rothenberg (reeds)
Rob Howard, Michael Mossman, Leo Smith, Kenny Wheeler (trumpet)
Ray Anderson, George Lewis (trombone)
James King Roosa (tuba)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Robert Ostertag (synthesizer)
Brigit Taubhorn (accordion)
Bobby Naughton (vibes)
James Emery (electric guitar)
John Lindberg, Brian Smith (bass)
Thurman Barker (percussion; marimba)

{Primary Source: hat ART CD 2-6171; CD-R}

78.05.14 • Anthony Braxton Creative Music Orchestra [Audience Recording]

May 14, 1978, 15:30 / 7th International Festival of New Jazz, Moers Schlosspark, Moers, West Germany
    announcement [2:10]
  1. Composition No. 51, 45, 55, 58 [50:40]
See Naughton 78.05.10 and 78.05.12

Anthony Braxton (Conductor)
Leo Smith (trumpet)
Dwight Andrews, Marty Ehrlich, J. D. Parran, Ned Rothenberg (reeds)
Vinny Golia (reeds, clarinet)
Rob Howard, Michael Mossman, Kenny Wheeler (trumpet)
Ray Anderson, George Lewis (trombone)
James King Roosia (trombone)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Robert Ostertag (synthesizer, electronics)
Brigit Taubhorn (accordian)
Bobby Naughton (vibes)
James Emery (guitar)
John Lindberg, Brian Smith (bass)
Thurman Barker (drums)

* Moers Festival Program and on-line archive also have Joseph Bowie (trombone), and Charles Bobo Shaw (drums), but neither are introduced in the announcement.

{Primary Source: CD-R; composition #s via Timo Hoyer correspondence 03.12.01}

78.05.16 • Anthony Braxton Creative Music Orchestra [Audience Recording]

Also: May 16, 1978 / Espace Cardin, Paris, France
  1. Composition No. 59 [19:32]
  2. Composition No. 51 & No. 58 [20:17]
    announcement [3:06]
  3. Composition No. 45 [24:25] (incomplete, cuts in at beginning)
[69:46]

"... The Paris tape is mind boggling. The audience goes nuts after the closing piece (Comp. 58), a march. They stomped their feet, clapped and screamed for a full 10 minutes before Braxton came out and did a short piece with Leo Smith! Only then would they leave..." -- Bobby Naughton correspondence 05.07.07
See Naughton 78.05.10 and 78.05.12

Anthony Braxton (Conductor)
Leo Smith (trumpet)
Dwight Andrews, Marty Ehrlich, J. D. Parran, Ned Rothenberg (reeds)
Vinny Golia (reeds, clarinet)
Rob Howard, Michael Mossman, Kenny Wheeler (trumpet)
Ray Anderson, George Lewis, Joseph Bowie, James King Roosia (trombone)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Robert Ostertag (synthesizer, electronics)
Brigit Taubhorn (accordian)
Bobby Naughton (vibes)
James Emery (guitar)
John Lindberg, Brian Smith (bass)
Thurman Barker, Charles Bobo Shaw (drums)

{Primary Source: CD-R, incomplete; composition #s via Timo Hoyer correspondence 03.12.01}

78.12.01 • Marilyn Crispell & George Lewis Duo [Audience Recording]

December 1, 1978 / Creative Music Studios, Woodstock, NY
    announcement [0:57]
  1. untitled "the fast duet" [18:11]
    announcement [1:02]
  2. untitled "the slow duet" [9:53]
[29:33]

Marilyn Crispell (piano)
George Lewis (trombone)

Also on this date: George Lewis with The Creative Music Studio Orchestra. Was Crispell (probably) present? [down beat December 7, 1978 p.45 / no personnel details]

{Primary Source: CD-R}

79.06.03 • Leo Smith - Roscoe Mitchell Creative Orchestra [Broadcast Recording; Audience Recording]

June 3, 1979 / 8th Moers Jazz Festival, Freizeitpark, Moers, West Germany

Broadcast Recording:
  1. unknown titles [85:00]
Audience Recording:
  1. unknown title [14:49]
  2. unknown title [15:30]
  3. unknown title [10:07]
  4. unknown title [14:51] (incomplete, fades at end)
[56:22]

Roscoe Mitchell (alto sax)
Douglas Ewart (clarinet, alto clarinet, flute)
Wallace McMillan (alto sax)
Dwight Andrews (clarinet, tenor sax, flute)
Marty Ehrlich (clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone sax)
Leo Smith, Kenny Wheeler, Michael Mossmann, Rob Howard (trumpet)
Hugh Ragin, George Lewis, Ray Anderson (trombone)
Pinguin Moschner (tuba)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Bobby Naughton (vibes)
Wes Brown (bass)
Pheeroan ak Laff (drums, percussion)

Moers Festival 1979 schedule.

{Primary Source: Audience CD-R; Broadcast Recording}

79.06.05 • Roscoe Mitchell Creative Orchestra: Sketches From Bamboo {1}

Moers Music MoMu 02024 (LP) 1979 WGER; DIW DIW-1192 (LP) JAP {? see Primary Source below}

Leo Smith: Budding of a Rose {2}

Moers Music MoMu 02026 (LP) 1979 WGER
June 5, 1979 / Palm Studio, Paris, France
  1. Sketches From Bamboo - Cyp 1 (Mitchell) [13:17] {1}
  2. Linefinelyon Seven (Mitchell) [10:15] {1}
  3. Sketches From Bamboo - Cyp 2 (Mitchell) [13:49] {1}
  4. Harmonium (Smith) [17:04] {2}
  5. Mutumishi (Smith) [5:35] {2}
  6. Budding of a Rose (Smith) [21:17] {2}
Roscoe Mitchell, Wallace McMillan (alto sax)
Anthony Braxton (alto sax, contrabass clarinet, flute, clarinet)
Douglas Ewart (clarinet, alto clarinet, flute)
Dwight Andrews (clarinet, tenor sax, flute)
Marty Ehrlich (clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone sax)
Leo Smith, Kenny Wheeler, Hugh Ragin, Rob Howard, Mike Mossmann (trumpet) ["Michael Philip Mossman" on MoMu 02026]
George Lewis, Ray Anderson, Alfred Patterson (trombone)
Pinguin Moschner (tuba)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Bobby Naughton (vibes)
Wes Brown (bass)
Pheeroan ak Laff (drums, percussion)

Marilyn Crispell: "These sessions [with the "Leo Smith - Roscoe Mitchell Creative Orchestra"] were recorded simultaneously." --conversation w/ RL: group name as referenced in the Moers Festival 1979 schedule for 79.06.03.

{Primary Source (MoMu 02024) : MoMu 02024; Ms. Crispell; DIW reference via Tom Lord Jazz Discography [M8354]. --This (erroneous?) Lord reference is the only mention I've seen of this Japanese issue. Does anyone know any better?}

{Primary Source (MoMu 02026) : MoMu 02026; session info via Ms. Crispell; session date via Tom Lord Jazz Discography [S8218].}

80.03.21 • Marilyn Crispell Sextet [Audience Recording]

March 21, 1980 / Live at Soundscape, New York City
  1. Unknown title [12:20]
  2. Unknown title [6:35]
  3. Unknown title [23:55]
  4. Unknown title [6:30]
  5. Unknown title [10:55]
Brent Edwards-- "In recent research, I have found two flyers from the event (one handwritten, perhaps by Crispell herself (?), and one printed by Soundscape), and I can give you more accurate information regarding the participants and instrumentation. According to the handwritten flyer (the more detailed of the two), the group included:"

Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Julius Hemphill (tenor sax)
Marty Erhlich (alto sax, clarinet / 1,3,5)
Thulani Davis (poetry-2)
Gerry Eastman (bass-1,3,4,5)
Clarence Becton (drums-1,3,4,5)
Cheryl Darby (dancer)

"In addition, the Soundscape flyer specifies that the event was a "Creative Music Studio Weekend at Soundscape" -- the Crispell group performed on Friday, March 21, and the next day there was a concert by the group Five Feelings (Karl Berger, Ing Rid, Nana Vasconcelos, Steve Gorn, Ismet Siral etc.)" --Brent Edwards

{Primary Source: CD-R; Brent Edwards correspondence 05.08.06; Cadence Vol.6 No.2 February 1980 p.42}

80.06.29 • Marilyn Crispell Trio [Audience Recording]

June 29, 1980 / Soundscape Music Festival June 26-July 5, Live at Soundscape, New York City
  1. Blood Woman [7:25]
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Billy Bang (violin)
Pheeroan akLaff (drums)

{Primary Source: CD-R; CODA #174 August 1980 p.37}

80.00.00 (1) • Anthony Braxton Quintet [Audience Recording]

"FALL, 1980" / "...a week at" The Rising Sun, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  1. unknown titles [92:49]
"Braxton had just put the group together, so they played free bop on Donna Lee, Half Nelson, Ornithology, and Straight, No Chaser early in the week, and dug into Braxton's originals by the weekend. Marilyn Crispell was a great surprise for the audience and musicians alike." [CODA #177 February '81 p.30]

This session is also wrongly circulating as "Anthony Braxton Quartet, 1982, Rising Sun, Montreal..."

Anthony Braxton (reeds)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Baikida Carroll (trumpet)
Wes Brown (bass)
Thurman Barker (drums)

{Primary Source: 2CD-R}

80.00.00 (2) • Anthony Braxton Quintet [Audience Recording]

"FALL, 1980" / "...a week at" The Rising Sun, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  1. unknown titles [73:52]
Anthony Braxton (reeds)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Baikida Carroll (trumpet)
Wes Brown (bass)
Thurman Barker (drums)

{Primary Source: CD-R; Timo Hoyer correspondence}

80.10.28 • Marilyn Crispell Quartet [Audience Recording]

October 28, 1980 / Jazz Gallery, New York City
  1. Point of Time [26:00]
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre (reeds)
Fred Hopkins (bass)
Pheeroan akLaff (drums)

{Primary Source: Tape}

80.11.18 • Marilyn Crispell Solo [Audience Recording]

November 18, 1980 / WBAI Music Store, New York City Marilyn Crispell (piano)

{Primary Source: confidential} Not in my collection.

81.01.14 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Broadcast Recording]

January 14, 1981 / Espace Cardin, Paris, France
  1. unknown composition (part 1) [40:55]
  2. unknown composition (part 2) [33:25]
[74:20]

Anthony Braxton (reeds)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Hugh Ragin (trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet)
Ray Anderson (trombone, alto trombone, slide trumpet)

{Primary Source: CD-R; detailing Timo Hoyer correspondence 03.10.29}

81.01.15 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Audience Recording]

January 15, 1981 / Düsseldorf, Germany
  1. Composition No. 98 [40:50]
  2. quartet improvisation [10:55]
  3. Braxton alto sax solo [2:05]
[54:36]

Anthony Braxton (alto sax, tenor sax, soprano sax, sopranino, C-melody sax)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Hugh Ragin (trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet)
Ray Anderson (trombone, alto trombone, slide trumpet)

{Primary Source: CD-R; detailing Timo Hoyer correspondence 03.10.29}

81.01.19 • Anthony Braxton: Composition 98

hat ART 1984 (2 LP) 1981 SWI; CD 6062 (CD) 1990 SWI

1st session: [See also 81.01.24]

January 19, 1981 / Ludwigsburg, Germany
  1. Composition 98 (Studio version) [48:30]
Anthony Braxton (alto sax, tenor sax, soprano sax, sopranino, C-melody sax, Composition)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Hugh Ragin (trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet)
Ray Anderson (trombone, alto trombone, slide trumpet)

{Primary Source: CD 6062; Francesco Martinelli's Anthony Braxton Discography}

81.01.21 • Anthony Braxton [Broadcast Recording and Videotape]
NDR JAZZ WORKSHOP Nr.:158 (Norddeutscher Rundfunk) TV and Radio Broadcast

January 21, 1981 / Studio 10, Hamburg, Germany
  1. Introduction [0:25]
  2. Composition 98 [47:50]
  3. unknown quartet composition [27:00]
  4. unknown solo composition [3:20]
Anthony Braxton (soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, sopranino, C-melody sax, Composition)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Hugh Ragin (trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet)
Ray Anderson (trombone)

{Primary Source: CD-R at 47:00 with track 2 only; DVD; track detailing via ethiessen1@yahoo.com posting to Braxton Yahoo group 06.08.04}

81.01.24 • Anthony Braxton: Composition 98

hat ART 1984 (2 LP) 1981 SWI

2nd session: [See also 81.01.19]

January 24, 1981 / Bern, Switzerland
  1. Composition 98 (Live version) [48:05]
Anthony Braxton (alto sax, tenor sax, soprano sax, sopranino, C-melody sax, Composition)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Hugh Ragin (trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet)
Ray Anderson (trombone, alto trombone, slide trumpet)

{Primary Source: CD 6062; Francesco Martinelli's Anthony Braxton Discography}

81.05.15 • Marilyn Crispell: Spirit Music

Cadence CJR 1015 (LP) 1983

1st session: [See also 82.01.13]

May 15, 1981 / Loeb Student Center, New York University, New York City
  1. Spirit Music [12:21]
Marilyn Crispell (piano, Composition)
Billy Bang (violin)
Wes Brown (bass)
John Betsch (drums)

[Note: The LP cover has Wes Brown on "guitar," which is incorrect.]

{Primary Source: CJR 1015; CODA June 1981 #179 p.36}

81.09.19 • Various Artists: Chick Corea / Pat Metheny / Lee Konitz - Woodstock Jazz Festival

Pioneer Artists Concert Film Series PA-98-596-D (DVD) 1998; Gravity / Direct Video DVDSV3012D (DVD) 2003 (UK)

[This film also features pieces with musicians Aiyb Dieng, Nana Vasconcelos, Collin Walcott, Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Dewey Redman, Miroslav Vitous, Anthony Braxton, Chick Corea, Lee Konitz, and Karl Berger.]

September 19, 1981 / Woodstock Jazz Festival, Woodstock, New York
  1. Arrival [1:22]
  2. Left Jab [4:53]
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Howard Johnson (tenor sax-1)
Julius Hemphill (tenor sax-2)
Baikida Carroll (trumpet-2)
Attilio Zanchi (bass-2)
Ed Blackwell (drums-2)

Note: Julius Hemphill is "Johns Hemphill" in the end credits.

{Primary Source: PA-98-596-D; session date from other festival release, Knit Classics 3008 and 3009; unidentified bass player identified by Bob Selcoe correspondence 04.07.09}

81.10.22 • Marilyn Crispell Quintet + 2 [Audience Recording]

October 22, 1981 / Carnegie Recital Hall, New York City
  1. Poems
  2. Burundi
  3. Chant
  4. Songs
  5. Invention
  6. Yemaya
  7. Spirit Music
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Billy Bang (violin)
Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre (reeds)
William Parker (bass)
Denis Charles (bass)
Jeanne Lee (voice)
Ingrid Berger (voice)

{Primary Source: confidential; anonymous 05.12.31} Not in my collection.

82.01.13 • Marilyn Crispell: Spirit Music

Cadence CJR 1015 (LP) 1983

2nd session: [See also 81.05.15]

January 13, 1982 / Soundscape, New York City
  1. Rounds [9:00]
  2. For Atsuko [11:11]
  3. Stoic [12:55]
Marilyn Crispell (piano / Compositions)
Billy Bang (violin)
John Betsch (drums)

{Primary Source: CJR 1015}

82.10.16 • Marilyn Crispell Quartet [Audience Recording]

October 16, 1982 / Donaueschinger Musiktage, Donaueschingen, Germany
  1. March [18:28]
  2. Chant / announcement [13:35]
  3. Spirit Music [6:21]
"...during his introductory remarks the presenter mentions Donaueschingen as one of the dates on the quartet's October/November tour. ...it was before the Köln concert." [Kevin C. White correspondence 03.12.31]

Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Billy Bang (violin)
Peter Kowald (bass)
John Betsch (drums)

{Primary Source: CD-R; Norbert Kreutzer 05.12.26}

82.10.23 • Marilyn Crispell Quartet [Broadcast Recordings]
Broadcast Germany WDR

October 23, 1982 / Sendesaal des WDR, Köln (Cologne), Germany

LIVE Mono Broadcast:
  1. announcement / unknown title [3:46 / 10:24]
  2. unknown title [15:32]
  3. unknown title [10:00]
Stereo Re-Broadcast:
  1. announcement / Burundi [0:24 / 12:28]
  2. Chant [10:26]
Marilyn Crispell (piano, Compositions)
Billy Bang (violin)
Peter Kowald (bass)
John Betsch (drums)

{Primary Source: CD-R}

82.11.04 • Marilyn Crispell: Live in Berlin

Black Saint BSR 0069 (LP) 1984 IT; BS 120069-1 (LP) IT; BS 120069-2 (CD) IT November 4, 1982 / "Total Music Meeting," Quartier Latin, Berlin, Germany
  1. ABC / for Anthony Braxton [23:21]
  2. Chant [6:53]
  3. Burundi [16:07]
Marilyn Crispell (piano, Compositions)
Billy Bang (violin)
Peter Kowald (bass)
John Betsch (drums)

{Primary Source: BS 120069-2; CD-R}

82.12.12 • Anthony Braxton Trio [Broadcast Recording]
"Jazz Alive" WBUR Radio

December 12, 1982 / Emanuelle Church, Boston, MA
  1. unknown title / Composition #83 (?) [25:42]
Anthony Braxton (reeds)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Dave Holland (bass, cello)

{Primary Source: CD-R}

83.05.07 • Marilyn Crispell: Rhythms Hung in Undrawn Sky

Leo Records LR 118 (LP) England May 7, 1983 / Soundscape, New York City
  1. Archaic Visions Part I [10:48]
  2. Love [7:18]
  3. Rhythms Hung in Undrawn Sky [5:46]
  4. Song for Abdullah [8:31]
  5. Sadness [7:50]
  6. Archaic Visions Part II [7:06]
Marilyn Crispell (piano, Compositions)

An unissued Broadcast Recording from 85.03.25appears to contain an alternate take of track 3.

{Primary Source: LR 118; GY 11/12}

83.07.02 • Marilyn Crispell: Pianosolo -- A Concert in Berlin -- Summer '83

Free Music Productions SAJ 46 (LP) 1983 GER

July 2, 1983 / Live at Haus Am Walsdee, Berlin, Germany
  1. Rounds (Crispell) [4:09]
  2. Ode to Messiaen (Crispell) [5:16]
  3. Spaces & Elements (Crispell) [5:53]
  4. Pulsations, Spirals (Crispell) [6:22]
  5. Into the Blue (Crispell) [6:07]
  6. Early Light (Crispell) [4:25]
  7. America (Crispell) [7:01]
  8. Evidence (Thelonius Monk) [3:49]
Marilyn Crispell (Steinway & Sons Grand Piano)

{Primary Source: SAJ 46}

83.12.05 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Broadcast Recording]

December 5, 1983 / Karlsruhe, Germany
  1. Composition 98 [38:15]
Also circulating with an incorrect date of 83.12.07 :::

"Paul Smoker wrote some nice statements on that show in [Graham Lock's] Mixtery, page 92.
The date December 7 could be wrong. Smoker said that AB went one day after the show to Ludwigsburg to make a solo recording. This one is recorded on December 6 (Sound Aspects)! So our show must be ...on December 5. A second gig of Comp 98 Smoker mentioned 'occurs a couple of days later.' ...Mysteries everywhere..." --Timo Hoyer

Anthony Braxton (reeds; flute)
Paul Smoker (trumpet)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Garrett List (trombone)

{Primary Source: CD-R; Timo Hoyer 07.01.18}

83.12.15
83.12.17 • Julie Kabat: On the Edge

Leonarda LP1 119 (LP) 1984; LE 319cs (CST) 1990

December 15 & 17, 1983 (probably the 15th, see 83.12.17 below) / St. Michael's Episcopal Parish House, New York City
  1. On Edge / Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night; Improvisation; A Otro Joel [13:02]
Julie Kabat (voice, percussion, Composition)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Abraham Adzenyah (perc)

[From the liners:]
"On Edge explores the experience and the sounds of grieving. It opens with Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, where the grown child speaks to the father who is dying. An intense improvisation for voice, drums, and piano follows. It leads without a break into a fierce declamation of A Otro Joel by Joel Filartiga. Filartiga is a doctor, artist, and independent dissident in Paraguay whose eighteen-year-old son was tortured to death. This became an important international case when the torturer was captured in the United States and brought to trial, setting a precedent that established torture as a crime against humanity. In the poem, Filartiga addresses his son, with longing for the life that might have been, and utter conviction in the struggle against man-made wrongs and the bearers of death and nothingness."

"...quite playful, weird and mad. The recorded sound is excellent." --Music Tokyo Company.

Visit the Leonarda webpage for this recording.

{Primary Source: LP1 119; LE 319cs; info via M. Hall of Leonarda Records}

84.06.02 • Various Artists: Rising Tones Cross / a Jazzfilm by Ebba Jahn
Peter Kowald Quartet

Ebba Jahn / Film Pals (VHS) 1985 GER/USA; Film Pals 1-2005 (DVD) 2005

[This film also features Peter Kowald Trio; Billy Bang's Forbidden Planet; William and Patsy Parker Ensemble; Charles Tyler Quintet; Don Cherry and Sound Unity Festival Orchestra; Jemeel Moondoc Sextet; Schweizer/Carl Duo; & Peter Brötzmann Ensemble.] June 2, 1984 / Sound Unity Festival, C.U.A.N.D.O. Community Center, New York City
  1. Melting - Lines - Cycle [43:54]
The improv goes out with a brief simmering duet between Gayle and a crying baby-- And the crowd goes "WOW!")

The Jahn video contains a first excerpt [5:25] which appears at 56:10 in; and a second excerpt [6:45], which includes 1:00 of applause and announcements, at 1:07:50. These excerpts do indeed match the track on the Audience Recording.

Another version of this tape also received as "unknown title (incomplete)" which has the ending chopped off: A PITY!!!

The Audience Recordings are widely circulated, and widely misidentify the tenor player as David S. Ware.

Charles Gayle (tenor sax)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Peter Kowald (bass)
Rashied Ali (drums)

{Primary Source: Rising Tones Cross; CD-R; date via NY Times Sunday 84.05.27}

This video is available from FilmPals. Which of course means NO TRADE on the video.

84.06.22 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Audience Recording]

June 22, 1984 / Kool Jazz Festival, 8:00pm, Irving Plaza, New York City
    announcement [0:21]
  1. Continuous performance [69:39] (split track at 46:56)
Note: Also noted (over and over again) tapes ERRONEOUSLY dated 84.02.16: tape flutter begins at around 52:00 in, becomes unbearable by 58:00 or so, volume dives, it's torture, everyone should destroy their copies of this...

"...Kool Jazz Festival... opens with the double bill of the Anthony Braxton Quartet and John Zorn's Pentathlon..." [CODA #196 June 1984 p.38]

Anthony Braxton (reeds)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums)

{Primary Source: CD-R; NYTimes preview 84.06.20 & John Rockwell review 84.06.24}

84.09.00 • Eric Andersen: Istanbul [Film Soundtrack]

Continental Video CAT#1098 (VID) 90min 1987; [also noted "VHS S04346"]
A film by Belgian Director Marc Didden, starring Brad Dourif and Dominique Deruddere
In Flemish; French; English; and w/ English subtitles. [90:00]
EMI Belgium / Benelux 1A 064 1191961 (LP) 1985 Belgium; 1A 264 1191964 (CS) 1985 September, 1984 / ICP Studios, Brussels, Belgium
  1. Where Goes My Love? (sonata) [3:31] {3}
  2. Stalking [1:15]
  3. Is It Love? [4:00] {3}
  4. Where Goes My Love? [2:38]
  5. Movin' With The Wind {2,3}
Eric Andersen (guitar-6; Roland Juno-2; voice-3,4,5)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Ann Sheldon (cello-1; noises-2; Orchestral Arrangements)
Bruno Castellucci (drums-3)
Yvan Desouter (bass-3,4)
Jerome Munafo (guitar-3,4,5; mandolin-4)
Pietro Lacirignola (sax-3)
Jean Blaute (accordion-4)
Patrick Alessi, Patricia Beyssen (voice-3)
Godelieve Beerens (harp-5)
Evert Verhees (bass + drum machine-5)
Brussels Symphony Orchestra

Marilyn Crispell: "I did Mozart-like improvisations to Eric's compositions." --conversation w/ RL

Istanbul Video
"When I finally did meet Eric Andersen, in New York City's blues club Tramps in the early '80s, I still thought of him as a sixties folk troubadour. I wanted to talk about "Violets Of Dawn." He wanted to talk about African rhythms, jazz pianists, the fine points of blues intonation, and a film-scoring project he was working on that entailed writing for a combination of Middle Eastern instruments and European symphony orchestra. The score was for the Belgian film, "Istanbul," starring Brad Dourif. Its sweeping string lines (recorded by the string players of the Belgian Symphony Orchestra) and overlay of Turkish stringed and percussion instruments served notice that Eric's musical sensibility was wide-ranging, complete in itself, and utterly beyond category."
--Robert Palmer
{Primary Source: Video CAT#1098; 1A 006 1191977; info via D Riblet; info via Ms. Crispell; Eddy Janssens correspondence 03.12.06} EMI 1A 064 1191961 Not in my collection.

84.09.10
84.09.11 • Anthony Braxton: Six Compositions (Quartet) 1984

Black Saint BSR 120086-1 (LP) IT 1985; BS 120086-2 (CD) IT 1997

September 10 & 11, 1984 / Vanguard Studios, New York City

1. Composition 114 (+108A) [07:09]
2. Composition 110C [4:38]
3. Composition 115 [06:37]
4. Composition 110A (+108B) [4:58]
5. Composition 110D [2:39]
6. Composition 116 [09:46]

The Martinelli Discography concurs with the above track listings.

Note: "First pressing of LP issued with wrong title 'Four Compositions (Quartet) 1984'. Diagram-title for 110D differs from Catalogue of Works (adds NBN); diagram-title for 23G quoted in the notes differs from Catalogue of Works (omits 378)." --Martinelli

Anthony Braxton (alto sax, soprano sax, c-melody s; clarinet; flute; Compositions)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums)

{Primary Source: BSR 120086-1; BS 120086-2; Francesco Martinelli's Anthony Braxton Discography, Record n. 97}

84.10.20 • Anthony Braxton: Prag 1984 (Quartet Performance)

Sound Aspects SAS CD 038 (CD) 1990 GER

October 20, 1984 / Radio Prag, Prag International Jazz Festival, Prag, Czekhoslovakia

Martinelli Discography: As given on release:
Announcement [2:13]
1. Composition 105A [18:00] Composition 105A
2. Composition 110A (+108B) [11:00] Composition 110A (+108B)
3. Composition 114 (+108A) [11:00] Composition 114 (+108A)
4. Solo piano improvisation [5:00]
5. Composition 69H [14:00] (excerpt) Composition 69H
[Total 59:07]


Note: "The two 108 pulse tracks are not listed on the sleeve; for 105A the middle triangle should be dark brown not red; and the attached circles should be dark brown not green; the diagram title for 69H should be a dark blue solid. All figures and letters are omitted from the titles; in the notes, the 'Legend for Schematic' is incomplete." --Martinelli

Anthony Braxton (as-1,3; sopno-1,5; C-melody sax-3,5; cl-1,2,5; Compositions)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums)

{Primary Source: SAS CD 038; Francesco Martinelli's Anthony Braxton Discography, Record n. 98; Session date via Andre Martinez, who played same festival w/ Cecil Taylor Unit 84.10.18}

84.10.23 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Broadcast Recording]

October 23, 1984 / Paris, France
  1. continuous set-- unknown titles [58:01]
  2. announcement / unknown title [0:17 / 09:58]
  3. continuous set-- unknown titles / announcement [32:30 / 00:14] (glitch at beginning)
[102:45]

Anthony Braxton (reeds; flute)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums, percussion)

{Primary Source: 2CD-R}

84.10.27 • Various Artists: Jazzgalerie Nickelsdorf: The 20th Anniversary

Jazzgalerie Nickelsdorf [No Issue #] (CD) 1996 AUS

[This disc contains tracks by: Athanor; Frank Wright Quartet; Rova Saxophone Quartet; Schlippenbach Trio; Anthony Braxton Quartet; Roscoe Mitchell; Trio Clusone; Frisque Concordance; & Gerry Hemingway Quintet.]

October 27, 1984 / Jazzgalerie Nickelsdorf, Nickelsdorf, Austria
  1. Composition 23M [11:11]
Anthony Braxton (alto sax)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums)

{Primary Source: CD; Francesco Martinelli's Anthony Braxton Discography}

84.11.08 • Anthony Braxton & Marilyn Crispell Duo [Audience Recording]

November 8, 1984 / Musikhochschule, Wuppertal, Germany
  1. unknown title [47:17]
  2. unknown title [41:12]
  3. unknown title [6:09]
[94:38]

Anthony Braxton (alto sax, tenor sax, sopranino, clarinet, flute)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)

{Primary Source: 2CD-R}

84.11.09 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Broadcast Recording]

November 9, 1984 / Kölner Jazzhaus-Fesitival, Musikhochschule, Köln, Germany
  1. unknown title [61:14] (split track at 40:46)
Anthony Braxton (clarinet, alto sax)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums, percussion)

{Primary Source: Norbert Kreutzer 05.08.20} Not in my collection.

85.01.19 • Marilyn Crispell [Broadcast Recording]

January 19, 1985 / Köln (Cologne), Germany
  1. Improvisation 1 [15:24]
  2. Ruby My Dear (Monk) [3:38] (incomplete, fades at end)
  3. After the Rain [12:27]
[32:14]

See also WDR Broadcast of 03.01.13 session: contains track 2 above complete at [4:28].

Marilyn Crispell (piano)

{Primary Source: CD-R; exact date and track 2 title via broadcast 03.01.13; info via Siegfried Otto and Arne Wondracek}

85.02.10 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Broadcast Recording / WKCR Radio]

February 10, 1985 / "Music is an Open Sky" Series, Sweet Basil's, New York City
  1. unknown composition [46:48]
  2. unknown composition [31:50]
  3. unknown composition [16:02]
  4. unknown composition [41:40]
Anthony Braxton (reeds / Compositions)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums, percussion)

* * * See: 85.03.26
An Anthony Braxton Trio tape is circulating with February 10 as the date. This is incorrect!
The actual session for this trio concert was on 85.03.26, as follows:
Music at the Crossroad: Jazz and Beyond / Sculpture Court, Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris, New York City

{Primary Source: 2CD-R; John Pareles preview, NYTimes 85.01.23}

85.02.11 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Broadcast Recording / WKCR Radio]

February 11, 1985 / "Music is an Open Sky" Series, Sweet Basil's, New York City
  1. unknown title [47:10] (incomplete, fades at end)
  2. unknown title [15:20]
    announcement (Johnathan Gil) [1:33]
[62:44]

Anthony Braxton (alto sax, soprano sax, sopranino / Compositions)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums, percussion)

{Primary Source: CD-R}

85.03.07
85.03.08
85.03.09 • Marilyn Crispell w/ Doug James: And Your Ivory Voice Sings

Leo Records LR 126 (LP) England 1985 March 7, 8 & 9, 1985 / Woodstock Recording Studio, Woodstock, NY
  1. Element Air... Leap (Crispell) [3:53]
  2. Opium Dream Eyes (Crispell) [7:55]
  3. Minstrels (Crispell) [7:40]
  4. On and off the beaten track (Crispell) [6:18]
  5. Song for Jeanne Lee (Crispell) [3:25]
  6. And your ivory voice sings (for Cecil Taylor) (Crispell) [4:50]
  7. After the rain (Coltrane) [8:22]
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Doug James (drums)

{Primary Source: LR 126; GY 11/12}

85.03.25 • Marilyn Crispell Solo [Broadcast Recording]

March 25, 1985 / WKCR FM, New York City
  1. Interview segment [4:42]
  2. Burundi (incomplete) [13:19] / From Live in Berlin, session 82.11.04.
  3. Unknown title [4:46] (LIVE solo)
  4. Unknown title [6:47] (LIVE solo)
  5. Rhythms Hung in Undrawn Sky [5:20] / Title track from same, session 83.05.07.
  6. Interview segment [11:02]
[46:24]

Marilyn Crispell (piano-3,4)

This tape is an anomaly I'm still looking into. A radio program featuring Ms. Crispell talking; playing tracks from tapes and an album; and the performance of two live selections. If only it were as simple as that. Track two is introduced as a Crispell and Doug James duo, "After the Rain," which it is clearly not. Track 5 is introduced as the title track from Leo LR 118, but it in fact must be an alternate take from that session. At one point in the final interview segment they discuss a date "tomorrow" by the Anthony Braxton Trio w/ Crispell and Lindberg in the sculpture court of the Whitney Museum, also mentioning that this is the first time they'll be performing there, and this date is confirmed by a schedule listing in down beat, March 1985 issue.

{Primary Source: CD-R; my own frazzled mind.}

85.03.26 • Anthony Braxton Trio [Broadcast Recording]

March 26, 1985, 6:00 pm / Music at the Crossroad: Jazz and Beyond, Sculpture Court, Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris, New York City
  1. Continuous set / unknown titles [42:30]
Anthony Braxton (reeds)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)

Please note: This date is confirmed by a schedule listing in down beat, March 1985 issue, and NYTimes citation below. A Audience Recording of this performance is in circulation among collectors and is ERRONEOUSLY dated as 85.02.10. [See also: 85.03.25.]

{Primary Source: Tape; NYTimes preview 85.02.20;down beatMarch 1985}

85.05.04 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Audience Recording]

May 4, 1985 / Festival Grenzüberschreitungen'85, Kommunikationszentrum 'Die Börse,' Wuppertal, Germany
  1. unknown compositions [42:48]
2nd Set was a Duo with Braxton and Peter Brotzmann.

Anthony Braxton (alto sax, soprano sax, sopranino / Compositions)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums, percussion)

{Primary Source: CD-R; John Chacona 08.03.24}

85.05.15 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Broadcast Video Tape]

"Solo Jazz" Program, La Buena Musica, T.V.E.SA 1985 / TV broadcast on "La Buena Música" program (TVE-2) on November 1, 1986.

May 15, 1985 / 5ª Jornadas de Jazz en Madrid, Auditórium A del Palacio de Congresos Y Exposiones de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  1. Continuous set [56:22]
Gerry Hemingway writes:

"May 16, 1985
It is mid-afternoon on a summer's day and John Lindberg and I knock on Anthony's door at our hotel in Madrid to see if he's interested in seeing the most glaring local color, a bullfight. Naturally he is disgusted with our invitation..."

—entry in Mixtery: a festschrift for Anthony Braxton (p.103), edited by Graham Lock, Stride Publications ©1995.

Anthony Braxton (soprano sax, cl; flute, as)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums)

The introductory credits have Marilyn as "Merilyn".



Festival Poster Photo courtesy Armando Berdonés Gómez.


{Primary Source: Video Tape; date and venue info via Jesus Moreno correspondence 03.01.21; Agustín Pérez notes in a posting to the AnthonyBraxtonProject 07.08.16 that a review appeared in El País (May 17, 1985): "La auténtica vanguardia," by JAVIER LÓPEZ DE GUEREŃA}

85.05.19 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Broadcast Recording]

May 19, 1985 / Elisabethbühne, Salzburg, Austria
  1. announcement [0:30]
  2. Composition 105a, 110a, 40c, 40h [36:52]
  3. Composition 96 [7:33] (incomplete, fades in at beginning, cuts at end)
[45:33]

Anthony Braxton (reeds)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums)

{Primary Source: CD-R}

85.06.16 • Anthony Braxton Trio [Audience Recording]

June 16, 1985 / Bim Huis, Amsterdam
  1. 1st Set / unknown compositions [48:10] (incomplete, cuts at end)
  2. 2nd Set / unknown compositions [48:00]
[96:10]

"I was at the concert and Lindberg stays at the bar the whole concert with his bass on the stage... what a concert friend Braxton was just blowing and didn't play his own compositions... what a fury man!!!!..." --Eddy Jansenns correspondence 03.12.28

Anthony Braxton (alto & sopranino saxophones, clarinet, flute)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Gerry Hemingway (drums)

{Primary Source: 2CD-R; Heinrich Smejkal correspondence 03.07.25}

85.06.17 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Audience Recording]

June 17, 1985 / Cafe Wilhelmina, Eindhoven, Holland
  1. 1st Set / unknown compositions [33:30]
  2. 2nd Set / unknown compositions [48:15] (incomplete, cuts at end)
[81:45]

Anthony Braxton (alto & sopranino saxophones, clarinet, flute)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Ernst Reijseger (cello)
Gerry Hemingway (drums)

{Primary Source: 2CD-R; Heinrich Smejkal correspondence 03.07.25}
"...with a view to travel arrangements, it would be logical to have a full free day between the Halle-Ljubljana leg rather than the Eindhoven-Halle leg. The latter involves a short drive from Eindhoven to the West German border, and at the FRG's border with East Germany just a 'Katzensprung' (cat's bound/jump/leap, take your choice) to Halle. On the other hand, Halle to Ljubljana is a considerable distance." —Kevin White, helpful correspondence 03.01.22

85.06.21 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Broadcast Recording]
GDR Broadcast

RDDR, Rundfunk der DDR "Modern Jazz, kurz kommentiert," 1985 (complete)
RBB, Kulturradio des RBB "Late Night Jazz," 05.06.04 (without encore)

June 21, 1985 / Berliner Jazzbühne '85, Friedrichstadtpalast, East Berlin, Germany
  1. Comp. 69N / 105B / 40F / 34A [56:24] radio annouuncement [1:35]
  2. encore [1:48]
Anthony Braxton (alto and soprano sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Jens Saleh (bass) / replacement for an ailing John Lindberg
Gerry Hemingway (drums)

{Primary Source: CD-R; Timo Hoyer correspondence 03.10.09; Patrick Pohlmann 07.11.11; Braxton Discography: http://restructures.net/BraxDisco/braxton_discography.htm} Looking for a copy without digital interference! Help?

85.06.22 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Broadcast Video & Audio]

June 22, 1985 / Ljubljana, Yugoslavia
  1. Composition 121 [44:00]
* Video is a 24:19 excerpt, cuts off at end. Longer cassette tape is sl-o-o-o-w, perhaps a private recording? ºRL

Anthony Braxton (reeds)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Mark Dresser (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums)

{Primary Source: CD-R; Video}

85.06.27 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Audience Recording]

June 27, 1985 / Alabamahalle, München, Germany
  1. Composition 105B [84:47] (split track at 47:22)
  2. encore [3:33] (incomplete, cuts in at beginning)
[89:04]

Gerry Hemingway writes:
"It seems to take forever for us to be called on stage, but finally the Pink Floyd film that was screened in the same hall as our concert comes to an end. We've had a hard time imagining that anyone would show up to see us in what feels like such an inappropriate venue and performance time. Indeed the lighting in the hall is such that you cannot see what audience is there, so it feels even more like a vacuum as we launch into '105B'..."
ºentry in Mixtery: a festschrift for Anthony Braxton (pp.102-103), edited by Graham Lock, Stride Publications ©1995.

Anthony Braxton (reeds, Compositions)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Mark Dresser (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums; percussion)

{Primary Source: 2CD-R}

85.06.28 • Anthony Braxton Quartet [Audience Recording]

June 28, 1985 / Nickelsdorfer Konfrontationen 1985, Jazzgalerie, Restaurant Falb (courtyard), Nickelsdorf, Austria
  1. unknown title [54:41]
  2. unknown title [11:54]
  3. unknown title [4:38]
  4. unknown title [3:03]
[74:18]

Anthony Braxton (as, cl, ss, Compositions)
Marilyn Crispell (piano)
Mark Dresser (bass)
Gerry Hemingway (drums; percussion)

{Primary Source: info via Norbert Kreutzer 06.10.30; WIRE #16 June 1985 p.44 (box ad); John Chacona 08.03.25}

85.11.13 • Anthony Braxton: Quartet (London) 1985 {1}

Leo Records LR 414/415/416 (3LP Box, Ltd. Edition of 750) 1988 England; CD LR 200/201 (2CD) 1990 England November 13, 1985, 7:30pm / Bloomsbury Theatre, London, England

Martinelli Discography:As given on release:
First Set (Primary Territories) / Disc 1 [56:10]
1. Composition 122 (+108A) [08:45] Composition 122 (+108A){1}
2. Open quartet improvisation [06:00] {1}
3. Composition 40(0) + COLLAGE FROM STRUCTURE [07:43] Composition 40(0){1}
Collage Form Structure {1}
4. Composition 52 [07:10] Composition 52{1,2} *
5. Drum solo [3:00] {1}
6. Composition 86 (+32+96) [08:45] Composition 86 (+32+96){1}
7. Piano solo (from Composition 30)