Essential Chicago Free Jazz

Jonny Miner · June-24th-2003, 06:47 PM

Hey ladies and gentlemen,

I have a real weak spot in my jazz knowledge--I read lots about the AACM, etc., in histories of avant-jazz, but I've heard very little Chicago music. Could people who know chime in about the really essential stuff? I aleady know the big names--the Art Ensemble, Braxton, Anderson, etc., so while names are important, I'm more interested in hearing about particular CDs which, to your thinking, are key and indispensible. Thanks!

Uli · June-24th-2003, 08:36 PM

It's a lot of stuff so I'd still would like to narrow it down. Do you know stuff by Muhal Richard Abrams, Kalaparusha., Chico Freeman, Von Freeman, Wadada Leo Smith, Lerouy Jenkins, Ari Brown, The individual stuff by Roscoe, Favors, Lester Bowie, Dogulas Ewart, Threadgill, Steve McCall, Fred Hopkins, Ed Wilkerson. Vandy Harris, Ernest Dawkins etc....

shrugs · June-24th-2003, 09:48 PM

get the Art Ensemble set on Nessa.
Essential is hardly the word.

Jonny Miner · June-25th-2003, 02:26 AM

Uli:
Out of "Muhal Richard Abrams, Kalaparusha., Chico Freeman, Von Freeman, Wadada Leo Smith, Lerouy Jenkins, Ari Brown, The individual stuff by Roscoe, Favors, Lester Bowie, Dogulas Ewart, Threadgill, Steve McCall, Fred Hopkins, Ed Wilkerson. Vandy Harris, Ernest Dawkins etc....," I've heard one Leo Smith solo album which didn't kill me, and the various contributions some of these people made on the Wildflowers records. Passed up a chance to see Von Freeman a couple of years ago in Amherst (stupid, STUPID!). The thing is, I've at least heard of nearly all of these people. I guess I'm asking how to find really good, representative stuff, with limited funds.

I know I've got to get something by AIR, and I still haven't picked up Braxton's "For Alto." Shrugs: I've got some Art Ensemble, but I'll definitely have to check that one out!

Martin · June-25th-2003, 03:08 AM

Listened a lot to Braxton and the AECO in the last weeks. I have virtually all the Art Ensemble stuff released since their hooking-up with ECM in the late 70s (including the most recent and quite rare "Urban Magic" live disc). Has anyone noticed the annoying drop-outs on "Coming Home Jamaica", track 10 ("Blue Hole/Mr.Freddy")?

I'm considering to expand my Chicago CD collection and would like to know some opinions on these recordings:

- Art Ensemble Of Chicago: "Live At Mandel Hall" (Delmark) from 1972. How does this one compare to "Bap-Tizum" (which I have ambivalent feelings toward; also recorded live in 1972) and their later live recordings (which I mostly like)?

- George Lewis' Black Saint recordings ("Shadowgraph 5", "The Imaginary Suite", "Homage To Charlie Parker") and "The Solo Trombone Record" (Sackville). I have many of his later recordings, some of which I dig, some not. Solo trombone CDs generally are of interest for me (Rutherford, Wierbos, and all that).

- Roscoe Mitchell and the Note Factory: "This Dance Is For Steve McCall" (Black Saint), "Song For My Sister" (PI Recordings), "The Bad Guys - Live In Fano" (Il Manifesto). I only know "Nine To Get Ready" which might be non-representative for the group's work (it's ECM, you know...).

Any comments highly appreciated!

Squaredancecalling Steve · June-25th-2003, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jonny Miner
I'm more interested in hearing about particular CDs which, to your thinking, are key and indispensible.

Here are a dozen albums I can highly recommend, with asterisks marking what I'd make my first four picks:

*Muhal Richard Abrams -- One Line, Two Views

Muhal Richard Abrams -- Blu Blu Blu

*AEC -- Les Stances A Sophie

*AEC -- Fanfare For The Warriors

AEC -- Urban Bushmen (2CDs)

Lester Bowie -- The Great Pretender

Chico Freeman -- Destiny's Dance

*Henry Threadgill -- Too Much Sugar For A Dime

Henry Threadgill -- Makin' A Move

Equal Interest (s/t) [w/ Joseph Jarman, Leroy Jenkins & non-Chicagoan Myra Melford]

Equal Interest -- Out of The Mist

8 Bold Souls -- Ant Farm [Edward Wilkerson, Jr.]

And I want to put in a plug for one of my favorite groups, the Julius Hemphill-led World Saxophone Quartet -- they are NOT part of the Chicago scene, but if you dig this other stuff, you'll probably be into them, too! Check out 'Rhythm & Blues,' with Dock of the Bay, Let's Get It On, Night Train...

walto · June-25th-2003, 08:12 AM

I like the Muhal/Jenkins duo recording and Muhal's "Rejoicing With the Light" and "Levels and Degrees of Light" also knock me out. I've also very much enjoyed almost every recording to which Roscoe Mitchell has contributed. It's hard to go wrong with a lot of those guys.

Pete C · June-25th-2003, 08:18 AM

It's too bad the video of the Art Ensemble, from the early 80's. is out of print. That's one group where any sound recording is truly an incomplete document. That video and the one of Rahsaan at Montreux are two of the most cherished items in my collection.

michaelr · June-25th-2003, 08:37 AM

I think that if you want to get an historical perspective, start with:

Roscoe Mitchell -- "Sound" One of the first releases from the AACM scene and still a phenomenal recording.

Anthony Braxton -- "Three Compositions of New Jazz" or "Anthony Braxton" While not as great as the Creative Construction Company releases which are out of print I believe, this is a great glimpse at some of the small ensemble improvisation experiments

Muhal Richard Abrams -- "Levels and Degrees of Light" A good place to start with Abrams aproach to improvisation/compositional forms. Also check out "Sightsong" his duet with Malachi Favors.

Henry Threadgill -- "Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket" This is a bit later (mid 80s) than the others but is a killer look at how Threadgill thinks about writing for mid-sized ensemble. One of my all-time faves.

George Lewis -- "Homage to Charles Parker" A must for any collection.

Art Ensemble -- Skip the ECM stuff which doesn't even begin to compare to the earlier work. The Nessa box is awsome but may be a daunting place to start. "Live at Madel Hall" or "People in Sorrow" are both good jumping-off points.

Fred Anderson/Steve McCall -- "Vintage Duets" A great place to check out Anderson and you can hardly ever go wrong if McCall is on board.

Brian Olewnick · June-25th-2003, 08:45 AM

I think Mike's recs above are excellent but just wanted to reiterate SQDC's citing of the Art Ensemble's "Les Stances a Sophie", recently made available on disc.

Jon Abbey · June-25th-2003, 08:58 AM

"I know I've got to get something by AIR"

Air's Air Lore is easily the best record I've heard by them, but long out of print on CD (Bluebird/Novus). good luck tracking one down, it's well worth the trouble...

Pete C · June-25th-2003, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon Abbey
"I know I've got to get something by AIR"

Air's Air Lore is easily the best record I've heard by them, but long out of print on CD (Bluebird/Novus). good luck tracking one down, it's well worth the trouble...

Absolutely! Someone has a copy listed on half.com for $29.94.

Gary Sisco · June-25th-2003, 09:05 AM

Khalil El Zabar's Ritual Trio.

shrugs · June-25th-2003, 09:06 AM

That reminds me. I gave Reynolds a cd copy of Air Lore two years ago and he conviently forgot all about it.
That siad. I often see the lp for a fraction of what the cd goes for.

blawless · June-25th-2003, 10:06 AM

All these suggestions are great, but there's a ton of "neo" Chicago-sound jazz, too. There's a perceived south/north divide in the current free jazz scene here, with Fred Anderson and Ken Vandermark roughly at the center of these respective circles, but there's substantial cross-fertilization between these "styles" and newer and older (i.e., AACM-related) takes on the Chicago sound. See the Okka Disk and wnur.org websites for another source on this.

Dennis Gonzalez · June-25th-2003, 11:11 AM

michaelr, I disagree about one tiny thing you said..."Nice Guys" on ECM by the Art Ensemble is beautiful. The rest I agree with.

Air "Lore"...definitely, or check out New Air's (Air with Pheeroan ak Laff, after Steve McCall passed) "Live at Montreal International Jazz Festival" w/ Cassandra Wilson.

And check out the 8th Harmonic Breakdown record label out of Chicago.

Sergio Zamora · June-26th-2003, 10:32 PM

DKV, baby!

shrugs · June-27th-2003, 09:23 AM

I wonder how many copies of the Nessa set are still around...

Maybe Chuck will drop by and let us know.

Bill Barton · June-29th-2003, 03:37 AM

And search your local vinyl emporium for:

Bill Barton · June-29th-2003, 03:51 AM

Air Lore is essential, with the following a close second:

Bill Barton · June-29th-2003, 04:01 AM

I'd also concur with Gary's choice of Kahil El'Zabar, not only with The Ritual Trio, but with The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble as well.

You won't go wrong with damn near anything on Delmark or Nessa, and check out Nicole Mitchell Black Earth Ensemble...

bluenoter · June-29th-2003, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jonny Miner
I aleady know the big names--the Art Ensemble, Braxton, Anderson, etc., so while names are important, I'm more interested in hearing about particular CDs which, to your thinking, are key and indispensible. Thanks!

Quote:

It's a lot of stuff so I'd still would like to narrow it down. Do you know stuff by Muhal Richard Abrams, Kalaparusha., Chico Freeman, Von Freeman, Wadada Leo Smith, Lerouy Jenkins, Ari Brown, The individual stuff by Roscoe, Favors, Lester Bowie, Dogulas Ewart, Threadgill, Steve McCall, Fred Hopkins, Ed Wilkerson. Vandy Harris, Ernest Dawkins etc....

Uli, could you narrow it down yourself and list some specific essential CDs? Other people too, please--I'd very much appreciate seeing more CD titles. Thanks!

David Williams · June-30th-2003, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pete C
Absolutely! Someone has a copy listed on half.com for $29.94.

And someone's trying to sell an Air Lore CD second-hand for $50 on Amazon.

I've been meaning to follow up on Air Time for weeks, and now I've found a copy of the Lore on LP going for 10 quid over here - yay!

Clay Fink · June-30th-2003, 05:10 PM

I've got an extra vinyl copy of Air Lore if anyone is interested. I tried to sell it on EBAY to no avail. It's a VG promo copy. Will sell cheap.

Gentle Giant · June-30th-2003, 10:55 PM

Years ago, I picked up a bunch of old Arista Freedom sessions from the 70s really cheap, but they're hard to find. I had two albums by the Human Arts Ensemble (which I believe had Lester and Jospeh Bowie, Willie Bobo Shaw and Oliver Lake, among many others that don't come immediately to mind). I think the one I preferred was called Under the Sun. One long tune on each side.

Another great album from that label is Frank Lowe, Fresh. I think he was a Chicago guy, but either way, this album's a killer. I need to find it on CD, since I taped the record and gave it away to someone.

michaelr · July-1st-2003, 08:40 AM

Some (though certainly not all) of the Human Arts Ensemble recordings are great, but go in the essential St. Louis Free Jazz recordings instead. There was a strong scene going on in St. Louis at the time that was similar in certain ways to the Chicago AACM scene. There was also quite a bit of cross-fertilization. I think that probably the biggest difference was the stronger compositional thread that provided a foundation for much of the improvisation from AACM members. The St. Louis scene was based in a community theater and I think that collective theatrical element really comes through.

Also, Lowe was born in Memphis and never (to my knowledge) lived in Chicago.

bluenoter · July-2nd-2003, 01:33 AM

Acquired my first AEC album today--Fanfare for the Warriors. I hadn't remembered that it's one of SqDC Steve's top four picks, but I'm delighted to see that is. If I like it, I'll be trying to contact Chuck Nessa and at least check on the availability and price of his boxed set.

Jonny Miner · July-5th-2003, 01:22 PM

*****THANK YOU*****

Hello all, for the past couple of weeks I've been apartment hunting, from Western Massachusetts, for a permanent dwelling in NYC. After lots of heavy lifting in ridiculous heat, I'm now in a sweet apartment in Queens, broke and looking for work. I'm sure that in no time I'll be shyly asking others if they're checking out this or that show at CB's... For now, penniless, I still have the pleasure of being treated by my brother to see the Fall tomorrow(!).

Your posts are totally great! I have lots to check out now!! Lowe was indeed Memphis, and then NYC post-Vietnam. "Fresh" does indeed feature Lester and Joseph Bowie and Charles Bobo Shaw, so it's understandable to think Chicago. Still, by 1975, a staggering number of Chicagoeans had moved to NYC. Anyone know why there was such a sudden shift, particularly at the height of the NY fiscal crisis?

I'll have more to write about music soon--I have to go worry about employment now...

Thanks again!

shrugs · July-5th-2003, 04:48 PM

Word on the streets is that Chuck mentioned that he was down to the last 500 AEC sets.

shrugs · July-13th-2003, 12:49 PM

Latest estimate is 450 left.