23 Standards (Quartet) 2003

Reception

The Guardian's review by John Fordham states, "Braxton sometimes plays within the harmony or close to the melody and original shape, but the usually sultry "Black Orpheus" is delivered as if Braxton's soprano were an out-of-tune violin, and Desafinado as a textural exploration of suckings, crackles and barking effects from guitarist Kevin O'Neill. Some celebrated themes, like Joe Henderson's "Recorda Me", Braxton elects to play at the highest altitude he can reach, so the usual sensuous bossa murmur becomes an eerie, hesitant sound, like a nervous child trying to come downstairs in the dark. But the biggest star on this set is the whole quartet". All About Jazz reviewer Rex Butters felt "This is crucial listening for anyone who cares about this catalogue of songs, Braxton shoulders open a doorway to a viable jazz future. Rather than presenting an airless mummified Sunday afternoon at the Jazz Museum, the band's ability to dance with history and buy it a drink resembles the time traveling sensibilities of Mingus and Kirk".

Track listing

Disc One:

1. "Crazy Rhythm" (Irving Caesar, Joseph Meyer, Roger Wolfe Kahn) - 16:50
2. "Off Minor" (Thelonious Monk) - 11:36
3. "Desafinado" (Antônio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça) - 4:35
4. "26-1" (John Coltrane) - 11:15
5. "Why Shouldn't I" (Cole Porter) - 10:42
6. "Giant Steps" (Coltrane) - 12:32

Disc Two:

1. "Tangerine" (Victor Schertzinger, Johnny Mercer) - 14:35
2. "Black Orpheus" (Luiz Bonfá, Antônio Maria) - 13:53
3. "Round Midnight" (Monk) - 13:03
4. "Ju—Ju" (Wayne Shorter) - 10:26
5. "After You've Gone" (Turner Layton, Henry Creamer) - 17:16

Disc Three:

1. "Everything I Love" (Porter) - 12:24
2. "I Can't Get Started]]" (Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin) - 11:09
3. "It's a Raggy Waltz" (Dave Brubeck) - 10:12
4. "Countdown" (Coltrane) - 12:08
5. "Blue in Green" (Bill Evans) - 5:11
6. "Beatrice" (Sam Rivers) - 9:27

Disc Four:

1. "Only The Lonely" (Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen) - 6:37
2. "Recorda Me" (Joe Henderson) - 15:52
3. "Ill Wind" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) - 17:00
4. "I'll Be Easy to Find" (Bart Howard) - 11:29
5. "Three to Get Ready" (Brubeck) - 10:29
6. "Dolphin Dance" (Herbie Hancock) - 10:47

Personnel