For Alto (album)

For Alto is a jazz double-LP by composer/multi-reedist Anthony Braxton. Delmark Records released the double-album in 1970. The tracks on this album are performed by Braxton on alto saxophone, with no additional instrumentation or musicians and no overdubbing. Besides on piano, few albums are recorded solo.

The Penguin Guide to Jazz gives For Alto a four-star rating (of a possible four) along with its "crown" token of merit, and describes it as "one of the genuinely important American recordings. While some landmark performances retain only a mystical aura of their original significance, [For Alto] remains powerfully listenable and endlessly fascinating."

Since For Alto's release in 1970, many other Jazz musicians have released similar solo albums, including:
 * James Newton's Axum (ECM)
 * Leroy Jenkins's Solo Concert (India Navigation)
 * Hamiet Bluiett's Birthright: A Solo Blues Concert (India Navigation)
 * Jay Hoggard's A Solo Vibes Concert (India Navigation)
 * George Lewis' Solo Trombone Record (Sackville)
 * Andrew Cyrille's What About? (BYG-Acutel)

Track listing

 * 1) "Dedicated to Multi-Instrumentalist Jack Gell"  – 0:42
 * 2) "To Composer John Cage"  – 9:30
 * 3) "To Artist Murray dePillars"  – 4:17
 * 4) "To Pianist Cecil Taylor"  – 5:18
 * 5) "Dedicated to Ann and Peter Allen"  – 12:54
 * 6) "Dedicated to Susan Axelrod"  – 10:24
 * 7) "To My Friend Kenny McKenny"  – 10:06
 * 8) "Dedicated to Multi-Instrumentalist Leroy Jenkins"  – 19:47