Art Ensemble of Chicago--recommendations?

[Peter McFerrin]

I recently came into possession of a not-quite-legal copy of the Art Ensemble of Chicago's 1980 album Full Force.

I dig.

Anyone have any suggestions for other AEofC and related recordings of which I should buy a legitimate copy? I keep hearing about this one Roscoe Mitchell album every serious jazz collector is supposed to own, but I don't know much about it.

[olivier]

"Nice Guys" is from that same period of the AEC

[mje]

Yeah, "Nice Guys" is the most accessible of the Art Ensemble recordings. You can almost dance to parts of it ;-)

[JimK]

Originally posted by Peter McFerrin
I keep hearing about this one Roscoe Mitchell album every serious jazz collector is supposed to own, but I don't know much about it.

I'm wondering if the Mitchell album is Sound.
If so, it is dubbed "the first documentation of the AACM music". Muhal rulz!
This was released in '66...future AEC mates Favors & Lester Bowie are onboard.
Saying this is "difficult" would be an understatement.
If you do prove to be adventurous-
Pick up Sound's companion disc, Joseph Jarman's Song For(also from '66).
Fred Anderson needs to be heard more...

As far as the AEC-
The Pathe Sessions/Americans Swinging In Paris is very accessible...almost R&B(w/ the occasional free blasts from the horn section of Bowie, Mitchell, & Jarman).
The recent AEC album on ECM, a "best of" selected by the remaining members...I like, too. Not that far out at all(Mingus-like?).
The AEC box, "1967/68"(actually Roscoe Mitchell's Art Ensemble) is very 'out'. At this time, it was either Phillip Wilson or Thurman Bkaer on cans.
FWIW-
I do like Don Moye's approach in playing with this group.


And Ed is on it-
Threadgill, McCall, & Hopkins(AIR) are very happenin'.
Good luck in finding their stuff, though.

[JAUQO III-X]

Anything by the AEC is worth checking out.there is to many great recordings to shallowly narrow it down to a few,as well as the solo projects from the various members AEC.and yes AIR is definately worth checking out as well.living here in Chicago is a plus if wanting to catch the guys performing with AEC or their solo outings.as a youngster I played in a few projects with Drummer Steve Mcall(from Air)

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally posted by JimK

The recent AEC album on ECM, a "best of" selected by the remaining members...I like, too. Not that far out at all(Mingus-like?)..

Yes I bought that and the first track is a great Mingus tribute - the rest of it is very variable, to be expected with an experimental group I suppose. I'm glad I bought it, but it didn't inspire me to buy any more as a whole album of some of the stuff, would be quite hard to sit through!

[oliebrice]

Les Stances A Sophie is my favourite AEoC album, although not that representative 'cos its much funkyier than their other stuff generally is, and has some great vocals from Fontella Bass (wife of AEoC trumpeter Lester Bowie). If you like it, check out the Cinematic Orchestra's tribute to Bowie, All That You Are, featuring Fontella Bass as well.

A Jackson in The House and Message to our Folks are probably their two best "out" albums.

[oliebrice]

I've just been listening to Malachi favors (the Art Ensemble bassist) playing on Sunny Murray's album "an even break never give a sucker". Its great stuff. he normally plays without a drummer in the AEoC so its interesting to hear him freed from some of the rhythmic responsibilites.