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THE ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO & ASSOCIATED ENSEMBLES
ECM 679 2089 (21-CD Box Set) Comprising: Art Ensemble of Chicago Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut, Famoudou Don MoyeECM 1126 Nice Guys / ECM 1167 Full Force / ECM 1211/2 Urban Bushmen (2-CD) / ECM 1273 The Third Decade Leo Smith with Lester Bowie, Kenny Wheeler, Charlie Haden ECM 1143 Divine Love Lester Bowie ECM 1209 The Great Pretender / ECM 1246 All The Magic! / ECM 1247 The One And Only Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy ECM 1296 Only Have Eyes For You / ECM 1326 Avant Pop Art Ensemble of Chicago Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut, Famoudou Don Moye ECM 1808 Tribute to Lester Roscoe Mitchell & The Note Factory ECM 1651 Nine To Get Ready Roscoe Mitchell & The Transatlantic Art Ensemble ECM 1872 Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2 & 3 Evan Parker & The Transatlantic Art Ensemble with Roscoe Mitchell ECM 1873 Boustrophedon Roscoe Mitchell & The Note Factory ECM 2087 Far Side Roscoe Mitchell ECM 2494/95 Bells For The South Side (2-CD) Jack DeJohnette with Lester Bowie, John Abercrombie, Eddie Gomez ECM 1128 New Directions / ECM 1157 In Europe Jack DeJohnette with Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, Muhal Richard Abrams, Larry Gray ECM 2392 Made In Chicago |
“The Art Ensemble of Chicago is alone in jazz history for reaching back conceptually to long before there ever was anything called jazz and moving toward a future beyond category.”
- Nat Hentoff
If the above quote seems a bit all-encompassing, then a cursory listen to the five albums by the AEC within this excellent (if large) box set merely affirm the accuracy of Hentoff's comment. Over the years since the final AEC album, and after the untimely passing of trumpeter Lester Bowie ECM has continued to record members of the Ensemble and most notably those that have been associated with the AEC, and thus building a substantial body of work that spans note only decades but multi-genre projects and albums that know no stylistic boundaries.
To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary since the formation of the original AEC, and by coincidence the rapidly approaching anniversary of ECM Records too, the label have released this 21 CD box set of recordings by the AEC and associated ensembles. This is ambitious undertaking, not so much by the ECM who have brought to our attention this wealth of music from their back catalogue, but for the listener with the amount of listening involved to simply get through the set in its entirety, however the effort will reap untold rewards for many years to come as one unravels the marvellous array of music within.
Looking at the albums and artists detailed within the set, each listener will have their favourites, and albums with which they are familiar; but it is with the unfamiliar that many will find not just hidden treasures, but also the opportunity to hear first hand how the musicians and the music made over the years tie together.
Released in time for Christmas, word is that this limited edition box set is selling fast, so to get your copy now as speed may be of the essence. A full article and appraisal of all 21 albums can be read in our feature piece, THE ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO & ASSOCIATED ENSEMBLES - 50 YEARS ON.
- Nat Hentoff
If the above quote seems a bit all-encompassing, then a cursory listen to the five albums by the AEC within this excellent (if large) box set merely affirm the accuracy of Hentoff's comment. Over the years since the final AEC album, and after the untimely passing of trumpeter Lester Bowie ECM has continued to record members of the Ensemble and most notably those that have been associated with the AEC, and thus building a substantial body of work that spans note only decades but multi-genre projects and albums that know no stylistic boundaries.
To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary since the formation of the original AEC, and by coincidence the rapidly approaching anniversary of ECM Records too, the label have released this 21 CD box set of recordings by the AEC and associated ensembles. This is ambitious undertaking, not so much by the ECM who have brought to our attention this wealth of music from their back catalogue, but for the listener with the amount of listening involved to simply get through the set in its entirety, however the effort will reap untold rewards for many years to come as one unravels the marvellous array of music within.
Looking at the albums and artists detailed within the set, each listener will have their favourites, and albums with which they are familiar; but it is with the unfamiliar that many will find not just hidden treasures, but also the opportunity to hear first hand how the musicians and the music made over the years tie together.
Released in time for Christmas, word is that this limited edition box set is selling fast, so to get your copy now as speed may be of the essence. A full article and appraisal of all 21 albums can be read in our feature piece, THE ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO & ASSOCIATED ENSEMBLES - 50 YEARS ON.
