Founded in 1967, the Art Ensemble are probably the best-known advocates of avant-garde jazz and the flagship ensemble of the AACM. Founding members have included leading contemporary jazz figures Roscoe Mitchell, the late Lester Bowie (both founding members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians), Malachi Favors, and Joseph Jarman. They were joined by percussionist Famoudou Don Moye in 1969. All members currently focus their efforts elsewhere -- and they've only played in Chicago half a handful of times in the last decade. p> In 1969, they moved to Paris, which was at that time both a flourishing jazz scene and haven for black American musicians. It was there that Moye joined and "of Chicago" was appended to their name. After 18 months (during which time they recorded 12 albums), having established an international reputation, they returned to the US.
Their music is pluralistic, joining traditional elements from old New Orleans with free jazz, theatricality (the members paint their faces in African ceremonial designs, and wear hats and African robes) with percussion, and ethnic gongs, whistles, and log drums.
They're toured periodically worldwide since 1971 (The 5-man Ensemble lineup has not changed since then, btw), and recorded for major labels like Atlantic and ECM.
Among their notable albums are People in Sorrow (1969, EMI), Nice Guys (1978, ECM), Full Force (1980, ECM), Urban Bushmen (1980, ECM), The Alternate Express (1989, DIW), and "The Art Ensemble of Chicago Salutes the Chicago Blues Tradition" recorded in 1993.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.artensembleofchicago.com/
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