Six concerts: Thanksgiving 1995;
Groups, playing of Anthony Braxton showcasedDates : Tuesday, Nov. 21; Wednesday, Nov. 22; Thursday, Nov. 23; Friday, Nov. 24; Saturday, Nov. 25; Sunday, Nov. 26, 1995.
Times : First set 8 PM, 2nd set 10 PM, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday; first set 9 PM, 2nd set 11 PM, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Place : The Knitting Factory, 774 Leonard St., New York City.
New York -- Last February's debut of 1994 MacArthur-award-winning composer-improviser Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Ensemble was such a success that he doubling the offering the following Fall: six nights instead of the debut's three, two shows each night instead of one, and guest artists along with the ensemble. All three nights in February showcased large-ensemble works; the Thanksgiving event showcased works for solo piano, quartet, quintet, sextet, and "tentet" -- as well as two nights of Braxton conducting the Tri-Centric Ensemble. Most importantly -- Braxton performed throughout most of the programs, whereas he only conducted in February.
In fact, he launched the six nights with two sets of his celebrated solo performances of his own music for alto saxophone (11/21). He played that instrument again the next night in a quartet featuring fellow multireeds player Scott Robinson, guitarist Kevin O'Neal, bassist Joe Fonda, and percussionist Kevin Norton; he switched to the piano in the second set for a quintet with Robinson, trumpeter David Douglas, alto saxophonist Mark Whitecage, bassist Mario Pavone, and drummer Warren Smith (11/22).
Pianist Janis Mercer performed some of his works for solo piano for the first set on Thanksgiving Day; a sextet featuring Braxton on reeds and Kunle Mwanga on clarinet, Richard Teitelbaum on synthesizer, trombonist Mike Heffley, bassist Fonda, and drummer Reggie Nicholson (11/23). Braxton, again on reeds, opened the next night's sets with an octet including fellow reeds players Brandon Evans, and Andre Vida; accordionist Ted Reichman, electric violinist Jason Kao Hwang, trombonist Roland Dahinden, bassist Fonda, and drummer Norton; and, still on reeds, Braxton played the second set with nine other players: fellow reeds players Aaron Steward, J.D. Parran, Lilly White, (oboists) Melinda Newman and Libby van Cleve; percussionist Thurman Barker; cellist Niyoko Workman and violinists Jacqui Carrasco and Gwen Laster (11/24).
Saturday (11/24) and Sunday (11/25) were devoted to the full ensemble, with Braxton conducting. Saturday's first set featured Compositions 165 and 100, the second 151. Sunday's sets were devoted to Composition 102, a long piece including life-sized puppets. A trio including pianist Jeanne Choe, trombonist Mike Heffley, and Braxton on reeds performed between sets.
Preceding the Sunday sets Braxton will be on hand to address the general public about his work, his visions and goals for the Tri-Centric Ensemble and his Tri-Centric Foundation, both based in New York. In particular, he discussed his desire to present and his ideas for alternatives to the musical assumptions dominating the commercial music industry, alternatives reaching as far as through the Third Millennium. The talk was informal, interactive with the audience, and light refreshments and a cash bar were available throughout.
"Our young people especially need to be presented with musical ideas that aren't present in the existing marketplace categories 'jazz' and 'classical,'" he said. "The Tri-Centric Foundation has a mission to seek out ways to do this, first in the New York community, then around the world."
Other goals of the Foundation include an independent recording operation, a music-publishing operation, a score-rental library, and "road show" equipment (such as a circus tent) to create its own permanent, portable venue. Braxton's talk was sponsored by the New York chapter of the Wesleyan Alumni Association.
The Tri-Centric Ensemble is a group of 40 instrumentalists, vocalists, actors, and computer-video gathered to showcase Braxton's multimedia and "narrative" musical creations.
"What this ensemble does with my music after just a few rehearsals is downright frightening," says Braxton. "I am fortunate to have such a group of virtuosos from all over the planet who have the dedication to come together from all over the world to prepare for this festival. We have something very special to offer New York at this point in time."
"We are very excited about what we hope to bring to the New York scene in this time cycle," says Braxton, "and we're looking forward to traveling the world with this ensemble after that. Get ready for the Third Millennium."
Six Nights (Thanksgiving) 1995 was a Tri-Centric Foundation, Inc. and Knitting Factory coproduction.