Four Compositions (Quartet) 1983

In the early 1980s, Braxton formed a series of small groups based in traditional jazz instrumentation. This quartet paired him with trombonist George Lewis, tootling and moaning through speedy, intricate melodies with bassist John Lindberg and percussionist Gerry Hemingway backing them up. The first piece, “Composition No. 105A,” is a 20-minute journey with the feel of a multi-part suite, while the three that follow are more concise but just as exploratory, and often have a free, bouncing sort of swing.