Released 1969 Length 72:58 | Recorded February 1969 Release date 1969 | |
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Similar Anthony Braxton albums, Jazz albums | ||
For Alto is a jazz double-LP by composer/multi-reedist Anthony Braxton released on Delmark Records in 1969. The tracks on this album are performed by Braxton on alto saxophone, with no additional instrumentation or musicians and no overdubbing.
Contents
Reception
The album is recognized as one of the landmarks of free jazz and improvised music. The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek stated "For Alto is one of the greatest solo saxophone records ever made, and maybe one of the greatest recordings ever issued, period". The Penguin Guide to Jazz gives For Alto a four-star rating (of a possible four) along with its "crown" token of merit, and describes it as "one of the genuinely important American recordings. While some landmark performances retain only a mystical aura of their original significance, [For Alto] remains powerfully listenable and endlessly fascinating." On All About Jazz Derek Taylor observed "This is a recording and artistic statement that completely changed the rules. Braxton's gall seemed audacious to some, but revolutionary to far more and the hindsight of history has proven this latter camp correct. His opened the gates for solo improvisatory expression for all players up to the challenge to pass through and in the intervening years many of the giants of improvised music have followed suit".
Track listing
- "Dedicated to Multi-Instrumentalist Jack Gell" – 0:42
- "To Composer John Cage" – 9:30
- "To Artist Murray dePillars" – 4:17
- "To Pianist Cecil Taylor" – 5:18
- "Dedicated to Ann and Peter Allen" – 12:54
- "Dedicated to Susan Axelrod" – 10:24
- "To My Friend Kenny McKenny" – 10:06
- "Dedicated to Multi-Instrumentalist Leroy Jenkins" – 19:47
Songs
1Dedicated to Multi-Instrumentalist Jack Gell0:42
2To Composer John Cage9:30
3To Artist Murray De Pillars4:17