Anthony Braxton, William Parker, Milford Graves - Beyond Quantum

There's something to be said for the intersection of intentions that exists between consumer culture and the avant-garde. Both are focused on replacing the old with the new, perhaps reusing elements of form and function but always with the express intent of moving forward and creating something new rather than merely reusing the old.

With that unlikely comparison made, when it comes to the avant-garde in music, there's a sense of adventure that rarely exists in the material consumer world. The new doesn't so much replace the old as it builds upon and adds to it. The best of the best spans histories, stands on shoulders, and expands vocabularies.

Beyond Quantum is nothing short of a gathering of masters. Anthony Braton, William Parker, and Milford Graves in five aptly titled meetings doing what it is they do in an improvised setting. Albums like this can sometimes be disappointing when the collective result seems less than the sum of the parts, but that is hardly a concern here. Braxton is in fine form on his expansive collection of reeds, and Parker and Graves flow like a raging river, blurring the lines between rhythmic and melodic roles throughout.

They all sound like they're having fun in a deadly serious sense, espousing their musical liberation theology and laying bare the result of countless hours of musical activity.

There's not much to say in the way of specifics here. This is the kind of recording that would either pique your interest based on personnel and format or not. For me it has really hit the spot, scratching several itches I didn't know I had.