Space - New Music For Woodwinds And Voice - An Interesting Breakfast Conversation (2000)

Tracklist:
New Music For Woodwinds And Voice
1-1 Marche 5:58
1-2 Textures For Trio 14:13
1-3 Prelude 7:18
1-4 Variations On Sketches From Bamboo, No. 1 & 2 11:40
An Interesting Breakfast Conversation
2-1 An Interesting Breakfast Conversation 3:27
2-2 Live At The Public Theater, I 9:54
2-3 SVSA, Scene 1 2:17
2-4 Live At The Public Theater, II 5:31
2-5 Shapes 9:09
2-6 Phonics 4:27
2-7 Journeys 7:16

Roscoe Mitchell, Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Bass, Saxophones, Eb Soprano Clarinet
Thomas Buckner, Extended Voice
Gerald Oshita, Straight Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Saxophones, Contrabass Sarrusaphone, Conn-o-sax

Space was formed in 1979 by singer Thomas Buckner and two complementary woodwind players, Gerald Oshita, who died in 1992, and Roscoe Mitchell of The Art Ensemble of Chicago. The trio recorded two finely crafted albums, New Music for Woodwinds and Voice (1981) and An Interesting Breakfast Conversation (1984), originally issued on Buckner's 1750 Arch label. The two albums have now been reissued as a double package. The earlier album showcases their rhythmically ingenious and texturally rich compositions. On the second they transfer their technical poise and precision to group improvisation, assembling resilient structures balanced in space. The recordings form a fitting memorial to Oshita, and serve as a taster for Mitchell's subsequent chamber work.
-Wire, July 2001

Now don't get me wrong, Splendid's supreme being and ever-diligent editor George is a fine human being; he's nice to unknown bands and he once he even saved a kitten from the jaws of a rabid donkey. But occasionally he does something like send me seventeen CDs full of sax-based free improv music, and as a result I occasionally want to feed him to a bear. Not that there's anything wrong with a) saxophones or b) free improv, but come on, we've all got our limits (mine is three, apparently). So. This was a trying week. But now that I'm finished whining (HA! - Ed.), let me say that if you're going to make free improv music involving saxophones, you might as well be a total freak about it. And putting Roscoe Mitchell, Thomas Buckner and Gerald Oshita in a room together is as good a way as any to ensure a high level of freakiness. Roscoe Mitchell is one of Creative Music's granddaddies, having had a hand in the establishment of both the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) and the legendary Art Ensemble of Chicago. He plays about a zillion instruments; here, he plays a variety of saxes and clarinets. Thomas Buckner is an extended voice guy, best known for his work in Robert Ashley's many incredibly lovely and weird operas (http://www.lovely.com). In addition to his involvement in Ashley's work, Buckner has long been a champion of experimental composers, often commissioning and performing new works. The late Gerald Oshita was a Bay Area reed player and composer. He plays saxes, contrabass sarrusaphone and "conn-o-sax" on these pieces.
This two disc set is a reissue of two records originally released in the early 1980s by 1750 Arch Records. New Music for Woodwinds and Voice includes two compositions each from Mitchell and Oshita. Although they're composed works, there's still a fair amount of improvisation involved. An Interesting Breakfast Conversation has seven fully improvised tracks. Both discs are excellent; the improvisations are full of raw energy and tremendous creativity, and are always interesting enough to hold your attention for the duration. One of the most striking aspects of these discs is their use of the wide pitch range afforded the musicians by the variety of instruments they play; from the lowest of low rumbles to the highest of squeals, there's usually something interesting going on no matter where you aim your ears. And for those of you who might be frightened by the prospect of two CDs full of "extended voice", not to worry. Buckner doesn't have the greatest voice in the world, but he's quite musical with what he has, and never once does he start reciting poetry.
About the only negative thing I have to say about these discs is that the sound is sometimes a little iffy – it breaks up and distorts at several points. But in the face of this much creative and sonic energy, that's not so surprising! That's just a quibble though; this is an impressive, memorable release.
– irving bellemead, Splendid

For the introduction of his new record label Mutable Music, new music vocalist Thomas Buckner decided to reissue as a 2 CD set the two LPs his trio Space had released in the early 1980s on his previous label 1750 Arch Records. Both feature the same line-up: Buckner on extended voice, Roscoe Mitchell and Gerald Oshita on an arsenal of saxophones and clarinets. New Music for Woodwinds and Voice (1981) contains four compositions, while an An Interesting Breakfast Conversation (1984), presents seven group improvisations. This is a chance to rediscover Oshita, who died in 1992 without getting the recognition he deserved. His playing on these two recordings is exuberant, tortured, and inventive to the bone. The sax/voice/sax trio format works very nicely, even though on the first CD Buckner tends to be buried in the mix and under-used. The compositions remain textural and blend elements from both classical and jazz idioms - interesting but a little dry. The improvisation CD truly illustrates what this trio was capable of. "An Interesting Breakfast Conversation" opens the set frenetically, with Buckner's voice turning into a third saxophone as the three of them engage in a dizzying polyphonic dance. On the other end of the spectrum is the delicate, sustained notes of "Phonics." "Journeys" reverts to more contemporary classical stylings, but still taps into something deeper and very moving. The wide range of saxophones used insures the listener against linearity. Both albums sound as fresh and new today as they did in the 1980s. With a price tag in the two-for-the-price-of-one range, this historical set becomes a must-have.
- François Couture





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CD 1
CD 2

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