The Meeting

Art Ensemble of Chicago

The Band

The Art Ensemble grew out of the Roscoe Mitchell Art Ensemble of the mid-'60s. Having met Joseph Jarman, and Malachi Favors through the Muhal Richard Abrams’ Experimental Band, and Lester Bowie shortly after he moved to Chicago from St. Louis, the first incarnation of the Art Ensemble was born with the recording of Lester’s first album, Numbers 1&2 for Delmark. On "2," the four musicians who would become the Art Ensemble recorded together for the first time. The band recorded without a drummer as Roscoe Mitchell Art Ensemble until they moved to Paris in 1969, where they met and hired "Sun Percussionist" Don Moye. Reborn as the Art Ensemble of Chicago, the group had a great deal of success overseas, recording classic albums like Reese and the Smooth Ones (BYG) and People in Sorrow (Nessa). They returned to America in 1971.

Throughout the 70s their reputation grew as one of the most influential groups in jazz. They recorded classic albums for ECM as well as forming their own record label. In the 80s they moved onto DIW as well as releasing albums on other labels. The 90s presented new challenges for the band as groups led by individual members took time away from the AEOC. Joseph Jarman’s departure in ’93 turned the band into a quartet. In ’99 Lester Bowie’s death further reduced them to a trio. They remained a working trio while occasionally performing with guest musicians. 2003 though saw the return of Jarman and the start of a new era for the band. Sadly it was not to last. In the beginning of 2004 Malachi passed suddenly and again the band was reduced to a trio. Since then they have performed with the addition of Corey Wilkes on Trumpet and Jaribu Shahid on bass.