Art Ensemble of Chicago
Live In Paris


Released 1969 on Fuel 2000
Reviewed by DrHerbie400, 21/07/2005ce


For those whose idea of jazz is Wynton Marsalis, bland fusion, or good intentioned but dated noisy free jazz, and hence has kept you from liking or checking out jazz recordings and you are a fan of krautrock and space rock or spacey music then this may be the recording for you. It is an entire concert from Paris in 1969. Each member plays several instruments aside from their main instruments. The line up consists of Lester Bowie trumpet, Roscoe Mitchell and Joseph Jarman saxes, and Malachi Favors bass. At this time the band did not have a drummer and to make up for it each member played various percussion. Since the recording is basically one long 100 minute performance reviewing individual tracks is pointless. Rest assured there are no cliches to be found here. Jazz cliches anyway. No stale hard bop rhythms we've all heard a million times before. No skronk for the sake of skronk that doesnt go anywhere. Instead we are treated drifting spacey improvs with many different textures and colors. To be honest this isnt jazz at all, not that being considered jazz is a bad thing, but jazz purists have tried to keep the music from evolving. I love hard bop, but Charles Mingus already had the style perfected in 1956! No need to repeat it in 2005 or even 1969 for that matter. Anyway, Taj Mahal Travellers fans may dig this as it has similar improvising techniques adn appears to be influenced by the Fluxus movement. Krautrock fans may dig this it shares the same free wheeling.........ah screw it i cant really explain it all I know is that this album can be played right after the first Ash Ra Tempel album or Sergius Golowin or Faust without sounding out of place. People check this out, even if you do not like it you will have to admit it has nothing of what you thought you hated about jazz.


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