Creative Construction Company, Vol. II (side A)

By 1971, few traces of jazz influence remained in Creative Construction Company's output.  The group had grown Anthony Braxton's original Chicago trio when Steve McCall joined in Europe, and they're augmented here by Muhal Richard Abrams and Richard Davis.  CCC Vol. II, which was not released until 1976, consists of one long piece, "No More White Gloves", spread across its two sides.  The dynamics build and fade gradually and drastically, with different musicians moving into the foreground in different sections.  Perhaps the most striking thing is McCall's percussive bursts, which often explode into the room (with lots of echo) in no timing or relationship to anything else happening.  While Washington Square Church has unfortunately been converted to residential spaces, the recording captures the sound of the space nicely and was well mastered.  The front cover painting emulates the classic 60s AACM releases, but lacks their majesty.