Biography
The Art Ensemble of Chicago emerged in 1966 from the vibrant creative music scene of Chicago's South Side, rooted in the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Founded by saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, the group initially included bassist Malachi Favors and trumpeter Lester Bowie, who joined after attending an AACM meeting and famously remarked, "I had never seen so many weird motherfuckers in my life." Saxophonist Joseph Jarman became a permanent member in 1968, solidifying the cooperative quartet that would revolutionize avant-garde jazz.
In 1969, under Bowie's leadership as AACM president, the group relocated to Paris, with Bowie selling his house, furniture, and Bentley to finance the move. The quartet settled in Saint-Leu-la-Forêt outside Paris, where they established their "cooperative economics" model—pooling all income and expenses collectively. During their European period (1969-1971), they recorded an astonishing fifteen albums and adopted their definitive name, Art Ensemble of Chicago. Percussionist Don Moye joined in 1970, completing the lineup that would define the group for decades. Their sound incorporated theatrical elements, "little instruments" like bells and whistles, poetry, spoken word, and a philosophy they termed "Great Black Music: Ancient to the Future."
Returning to America in 1971, the Art Ensemble achieved their breakthrough performance at the 1972 Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival before ten thousand people, sharing the stage with Muddy Waters. This led to a contract with Atlantic Records, joining a roster that included Led Zeppelin and John Coltrane. Throughout their career, they recorded for diverse labels including Delmark, ECM, BYG, and DIW, maintaining their avant-garde vision while becoming the leading practitioners of the AACM's artistic principles. Despite the passing of Favors in 2004, Bowie in 1999, and Jarman in 2019, Mitchell and Moye continued to perform under the Art Ensemble name, preserving the legacy of one of jazz's most innovative and enduring collectives.
Fun Facts
- When the Art Ensemble moved to Paris in 1969, they traveled by ship with "several hundred musical instruments that weighed over two tons," settling in a country house surrounded by cherry and apple trees where they could rehearse in isolation.
- The group adopted a "cooperative economics" model in their French country house, where all income from shows and recordings went into a collective fund that covered everyone's expenses equally, from food to equipment—a radical extension of AACM principles.
- During their prolific 1969 European period alone, the Art Ensemble recorded seven albums, including classics like 'A Jackson In Your House,' 'Message To Our Folks,' and 'People In Sorrow,' establishing their signature sound that incorporated theatrical elements, poetry, and "little instruments" like bicycle horns, bells, and woodblocks.
- Their breakthrough American performance came at the 1972 Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival before a crowd of ten thousand, sharing the stage with blues legend Muddy Waters. Atlantic Records executive Michael Cuscuna was so impressed that he signed them immediately, releasing a live recording of that very performance as 'Bap-tizum.'
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Muhal Richard Abrams - Co-founder of the AACM and leader of the Experimental Band from which the Art Ensemble emerged (Experimental Band performances) [early 1960s-1966]
Key Collaborators
- Roscoe Mitchell - Founding member, saxophonist-composer, leader of the original Art Ensemble formations (Sound (1966), Conglipitous (1968), A Jackson In Your House, People In Sorrow) [1966-present]
- Lester Bowie - Trumpeter, became AACM president in 1969, organized the Paris relocation (A Jackson In Your House, Message To Our Folks, Bap-tizum) [1967-1999]
- Malachi Favors - Bassist and founding member of the cooperative (Sound (1966), all major Art Ensemble recordings) [1966-2004]
- Joseph Jarman - Saxophonist-composer who became permanent member, completing the core quartet (A Jackson In Your House, Message To Our Folks, Nice Guys) [1968-2019]
- Don Moye - Percussionist who joined from Detroit Free Jazz, completing the classic quintet lineup (All recordings from 1970 onward) [1970-present]
- Brigitte Fontaine - French avant-garde artist who collaborated extensively with the group during their Paris period (Collaborative recordings) [1969]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| american swinging in paris | 2002-08-23 | Album |
| Nice Guys | 1979-01-01 | Album |
| The Third Decade | 1985-01-01 | Album |
| Full Force | 1980-04-01 | Album |
| Fanfare For The Warriors | 1974 | Album |
| Urban Bushmen | 1982-03-01 | Album |
| We Are On the Edge: A 50th Anniversary Celebration | 2019-04-26 | Album |
| The Art Ensemble of Chicago and Associated Ensembles | 2018-11-09 | Album |
| A Jackson in Your House | 1969-08-01 | Album |
| Bap-Tizum -Performance At The Ann Arbor Blues Festival | 1973 | Album |
| Message to Our Folks | 1969-10-03 | Album |
| A Jackson In Your House / Message To Our Folks | 2001 | Album |
| Tutankhamun | 1969 | Album |
| Chi Congo | 2006-08-17 | Album |
| Tribute To Lester | 2003-09-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Thème de Yoyo (american swinging in paris)
- Thème De Yoyo (Jazz Party)
- Nice Guys (Nice Guys)
- Funky AECO (The Third Decade)
- Charlie M (Full Force)
- Ja (Nice Guys)
- Walking In The Moonlight (The Third Decade)
- 597 - 59 (Nice Guys)
- Variations sur un thème de Monteverdi (I, II, III) (american swinging in paris)
- Thème de Céline (american swinging in paris)
External Links
Tags: #avant-garde, #avant-garde-jazz, #free-jazz
References
Heard on WWOZ
Art Ensemble Of Chicago has been played 2 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2025 | 22:50 | Zombiefrom Dreaming of the Masters | The Freaknologist Lunatique Showw/ David Kunian | |
| Oct 20, 2025 | 07:00 | Funky AECOfrom The Third Decade | The Morning Setw/ Stuart Hall |