Anthony Braxton & Mario Pavone - Duets

Year: 1993
Label: Music & Arts Programs of America, Inc.
Style: Jazz/free jazz
Location: Rhino Records in Claremont, CA
Medium: CD
Condition: Used
Dollar diamond or dud: Diamond

Info: The thing that differentiates this buck bargain from all the others is that I know exactly why it was left to the suffocating, over-packed realm that is the hipster dumpster: Anthony Braxton and Mario Pavone kind of phone in their performances here. Oh, sure, it's a really expensive, intricate, and complicated phone, but there's that certain magic that comes with giving a shit that's largely missing on this one. Still, even though this is a lesser and completely forgettable set in comparison to both guys' discography, it's still heads and shoulders above a lot of post-'70s jazz for the simple fact that it's Anthony Braxton. Braxton is in a particularly Trane'd state of mind here on alto and soprano sax, laying down some more melodically inclined solos than I'm used to. At the very least, it's not the inaccessible squall of For Alto or the ridiculous wall of noise that he was able to erect with Wolf Eyes on their now-three-years-old collabo (Jesus, time flies). Pavone's bass ably supports Braxton, but doesn't really prod him to excel and that's kind of the problem; they're both stuck on cruise control. But, you can't complain when you find one of the leading lights of post-everything jazz in the dollar dump. At the very least, this works as good background noise. I just wish there were more highs and lows instead of a steady stream of okay. (Aside: The packaging is amazingly awful, with Braxton looking like he's ready to take on the role of The Count, while Pavone is Mario launching headfirst into a midlife crisis. The only saving grace are the liner notes where Braxton shits all over Chick Corea and Scientology. Go go good guys).

Notes on Rhino: College town. Independent. Those three words should sum up Rhino for a lot of you. The selection is pretty eh and is heavily stocked with the indie album d'jour. The wax wing is passable and there are a few great bargains to be found (there are a shit ton of metal promos for a buck, if that's your thing). I don't think it's worth the drive, but if you're in town, hit it up and see what the used section has in store for you. The staff was non-existent when I went, which is usually a blessing, but I was oddly disappointed that I couldn't shoot the shit with anyone. I hate to be negative, because the name carries a lot of clout, but I was kind of underwhelmed. Maybe next time.

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