Joseph Jarman - Song For

Joseph Jarman: alto saxophone, voice
Fred Anderson: tenor saxophone
William Brimfield: trumpet
Christopher Gaddy: piano, marimba
Charles Clark: bass
Steve McCall: drums
Thurman Barker: drums

Review

by Scott Yanow

This was one of the early classics of the AACM. Altoist Joseph Jarman, who would become a permanent member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago shortly after this recording, is heard in a sextet with trumpeter William Brimfield, the legendary tenor Fred Anderson, pianist Christopher Gaddy, bassist Charles Clark, and either Steve McCall or Thurman Barker on drums. The four very diverse improvisations include one that showcases a Jarman recitation, a dirge, the intense "Little Fox Run," and the title cut, which contrasts sounds and a creative use of silence. Overall, this music was the next step in jazz after the high-energy passions of the earlier wave of the avant-garde started to run out of fresh ideas. It's recommended for open-eared listeners. The 1996 CD reissue adds an alternate take of "Little Fox Run" to the original program.

1967 SONG FOR
thanks a lot to Joao from exp etc

The Art Ensemble: 1967/68

ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO:
Lester Bowie: trumpet, drums (bass), flugelhorn, horn, siren
Roscoe Mitchell: alto & soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute, harmonica, percussion, recorder, gourd
Joseph Jarman: alto & soprano saxophones, flute, clarinet, bassoon
Malachi Favors Maghostut: bass, electric bass, kazoo, zither
Charles Clark: bass
Thurman Barker: drums
Robert Crowder: drums
Phillip Wilson: drums

Review

by Scott Yanow

This limited-edition five-CD set available directly from Nessa not only reissues the important free jazz albums Old/Quartet, Numbers 1 & 2, and Congliptious but contains quite a bit of music taken from rehearsals by the members of the group that would by 1969 become known as the Art Ensemble of Chicago. With such advanced improvisers as trumpeter Lester Bowie, Roscoe Mitchell and Joseph Jarman on reeds, bassist Malachi Favors, drummer Phillip Wilson, and appearances from bassist Charles Clark, drummers Robert Crowder and Thurman Barker, the music is usually very emotional and sometimes quite scary. There are meandering sections and individual performances that do not work all that well, but in general the music is quite colorful, adventurous, and innovative: in many ways the beginning of the modern avant-garde. Open-eared listeners are advised to search for this important historical set. 1967/68 THE ART ENSEMBLE : CD1 - CD2 -CD3 - CD4 - CD5

Anthony Braxton - Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978

Anthony Braxton: conductor, composer
Dwight Andrews, Marty Ehrlich, Vinny Golia, J.D. Parran, Ned Rothenberg: saxophones, clarinets, flutes, piccolo, nagaswaram, ocarina
Rob Howard, Michael Mossman, Leo Smith, Kenny Wheeler: trumpets, flugelhorn
Ray Anderson, George Lewis, James King Roosa: trombone, tuba
Marilyn Crispell: piano
Birgit Taubhorn: accordion
Bobby Naughton: vibraphone
James Emery: electric guitar
John Lindberg, Brian Smith: basses
Thurman Barker: percussion, marimba
Robert Ostertag: synthetiser

Although Anthony Braxton does not play on this double CD (whose contents were released for the first time in 1995), his presence is certainly felt. He conducts the band through a fairly free improvisation and five of his compositions. Braxton showed a great deal of insight in originally picking the personnel for nearly every one of the 21 musicians has had an important career in advanced jazz, particularly Marty Ehrlich, Vinny Golia, Michael Mossman, Leo Smith, Kenny Wheeler, Ray Anderson, George Lewis, Marilyn Crispell, and John Lindberg. The music is often dense and atonal but never dull, and the closing composition is a superb piece that displays Braxton's love of marching band music! Although one wishes that Anthony Braxton himself had played, this is a set easily recommended to his fans. (by Scott Yanow, AMG)

1978 CREATIVE ORCHESTRA (KÖLN) 1978 PART 1
1978 CREATIVE ORCHESTRA (KÖLN) 1978 PART 2