June 2001

Anthony Braxton
Ten Compositions (Quartet) 2000
CIMP Recordings

By Ron Wynn

Ten Compositions (Quartet) 2000 highlights a May 2000 quartet session with guitarist Kevin O'Neil, bassist Andy Eulau and drummer Kevin Norton. Excellent engineering and sound enable the listener to fully hear Braxton on alto and flute. His work here doesn't lack energy or intensity; it's filled with surprise and ingenuity. He's a competent flute player, but never elicits on alto anything resembling the quality of sound or warmth of tone he routinely coaxes from every other weapon in his arsenal. O'Neil's a solid but not exciting player, and the compositions mostly lock the rhythm section into a supportive posture. Unlike many other Braxton releases, there are more shorter rather than longer works among the 10 compositions, and they provide some appreciated contrast and change of pace.