ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO

Creative (“jazz”) music in the past ten years has developed in a number of distinctly unique directions, with a continuing concomitant interest on the part of the musicians in the extramusical aspects of the music scene, focusing particularly on the economic circumstances which surround the music. Creative musicians these days are concerned not only with the freedom they are able to obtain and reflect through the music itself, but also with the freedom to control their own artistic and economic destinies in what is one of the most vicious “businesses” around.

One of the most important contributions to the creative music scene since the mid-sixties has been the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), a Chicago-based collective of black musicians and composers which is dedicated to the principle of self-determination for artists and all people. The program of the AACM includes the, following Statement of purpose: l —To cultivate young musicians and to create music of a high artistic level for the general public through the presentation of programs designed to magnify the importance of Creative Music;

—To conduct a free training program fpr young, aspiring musicians;

—To provide a source of employment fbr worthy Creative Musicians;

—To contribute financially to

charitable organizations; 7—To set an example of high moral standards for musicians, and to uplift the public image of Creative Musicians;

..—To increase mutual respect between Creative Musicians and musical tradespeople (booking agents, managers, promoters and instrument manufacturers, etc.);

—To uphold the tradition of

elevated, cultured musicians handed down from the past;

—To stimulate spiritual growth in creative artists’ participation in programs, concerts, recitals, etc.

One of the prime forces in the AACM almost since its conception has been the Art Ensemble of Chicago and its various members, including Joseph Jarman and Roscoe Mitchell (reeds), Lester Bowie (trumpet), Malachi Favors (bass) and Donald Moye (drums). The Art Ensemble roams throughout the western world making music and friends in great plenitude; it is an extremely popular band in Europe, where it has been recorded many times for various European labels. A series of albums titled AACM/GREAT BLACK MUSIC, including “Reese and the Smooth Ones,” “A Jackson In Your Home” and “Music for the Folks” has been released on the BYG/ACTUEL label, and an American series for Nessa Records which includes “People In Sorrow” and “Les Stances de Sophie” contains some of their most exciting performances yet captured on tape.

Concerning the music itself, Joseph Jarman offered the following statement for publication in the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival Program:

“About the music — we have discovered a fragment of the infinite — there is an energy force of pure sound — we’re now trying to communicate the reality of universal oneness. For example, to start with the body, say as symbol — how it has been used, throughout the whole known and un/known universes. The body — our weak beginnings at identity — the TRIBE — becomes reality. All its symbols used to convey to it its history, its culture, its whole being (myths, teachings, etc.) — the body becomes movement. We always try to remind the people of the beauty of the body as

expressed in movement — sound as life source has been clearly given to us. LIFE sources everywhere — energy — thus the balance of all things/beings/ unfold themselves.

“We try to reach every sound given to the memory minds of ALL beings. Sound formula becomes a birth shout of any living/non-living (so-called) being. This is the “reason” that we have needed so many instruments — because we must reach far beyond what we are as humans and express the deep spiritual elements that are the history of all things. The music moves from second to second to another universe. We move with it and so does any creature within a million mile radius.

THE ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO is being allowed to create GREAT BLACK MUSIC so that all the creatures may hear the wonder of their own powers and beings.

We are not free*

until there is no more war.

We are not free*

until our people, and all people can COME TOGETHER.

We are not free*

until all people learn to LOVE WHAT THEY ARE.

Yet we sing of hope and we sing of joy.

And we sing of despair and we sing of sorrow.

(*as in FREE JAZZ)

“MAY THERE BE PEACE AND LOVE AND PERFECTION THROUGHOUT ALL CREATION 0 GOD” (John Coltrane)

Joseph Jarman, for the ART ENSEMBLE