From R. Lim Sent Tue, Jul 20th 1999, 15:58
From R. Lim Sent Tue, Jul 20th 1999, 15:58
On Mon, 12 Jul 1999, Jeff Waye/Ninja Tune wrote: > When all was said and done though the award for best show of the festival > has to go to Art Ensemble of Chicago. I went expecting a group of old > guys who couldn't live up to my expectations, and instead got more scronk > then even I had bargained for. Not a hint of melody for almost the first > hour (...a good thing by the way), lots of full on horn blowing, Cecil > Taylor style piano smacking, some good face paint, lots of 'serious jazz' > people leaving (again, a sure sign of quality). Fucking awesome Who was the pianist? The Art Ensemble have never included a proper one in their ranks (though both Cecil and Muhal Abrams have joined them for a session here and there). I heard that cofounder Lester Bowie was hospitalized (anyone know why?), so that might open up the possibility of a temporary replacement.. was it Ari Brown (also plays tenor and electronic keyboard)? Anyhoo, the individual talents of the Art Ensemble are still pretty considerable (I'll give the hefty benefit of the doubt to Bowie, who hasn't recorded anything that I've liked since the Art Ensemble started making bad records in the very early 80s), but live they seem more like a repertory band than an actual functioning unit. Any chance you get to check out Roscoe Mitchell in any setting, definitely do it. He's one of the greats and his edge is as sharp as ever. Favors was also ill for a while (heart problems) and these guys ain't getting any younger... -rob