June 4, 2025: Anthony Braxton turns 80 – an almost mocking age for someone who has been the true enfant terrible of the American jazz scene since the late 1960s. For us, this is an opportunity to revisit his work from a particular angle. In his case, we focus on the quartet, in its many guises, through a selection of emblematic albums. With a creative voracity that seems inexhaustible (“Anthony is our Beethoven,” Roscoe Mitchell told us some time ago), Braxton has ranged from solo to orchestra, traversing multiple universes with decisive, authoritative purpose. The quartet – precisely because of the breadth of his repertoire – struck us as the ideal entry point to such a complex, abundant, sometimes dispersive figure who nonetheless maintains a clear, unmistakable identity and style. After all, Braxton has led several quartets, a couple of which stand as canonical litmus tests for distinct eras and […]
Dossier on Anthony Braxton’s Quartets
In honor of the brilliant Chicago musician’s 80th birthday, we explored his vast discography, selecting a formula that is as solid as it is varied – much like Braxton himself.
