ABCD

A duo encounter between Anthony Braxton — one of the most important and prolific composers in creative music — and bassist Chris Dahlgren, who augments his double bass with preparations and electronics. The recording is built on Braxton's systematic methods: for one of its composition-systems the two musicians each drew from a deck of playing cards, with the cards determining which blocks of material were performed, so that chance shapes each realization. The result moves between abstract free improvisation, lyrical interplay and raw electronic texture, an absorbing meeting of rigorous structure and open spontaneity.