Art Ensemble of Chicago - Urban Bushmen (ECM, 1982)

 This post is by Dan

Lester Bowie (tr, cel, b d); Joseph Jarman (sax, cl, perc, vo); Roscoe Mitchell (sax, cl, fl, perc); Malachi Favors (b, perc, mel); Don Moye (d, perc, vo)

Recorded May 5 and 6, 1980

The AEC has been one of the most unique and easily recognizable groups in jazz since their launch in 1969. After recording for French labels, they recorded some great records for Atlantic in the 1970s. In 1979, ECM released Nice Guys, followed by Full Force a year later. See Scott's post on Full Force. With the ECM sound, these albums reveal more of the AEC's practice of using an array of "little instruments" that contribute greatly to the overall experience of their music. 

Urban Bushmen captures the AEC live in a revealing acoustic space. It is by far my favorite AEC album and one of the greatest live albums I've heard. AEC concerts were enhanced not only by the instrumental detail, but also by the chants, shouts, and costumes worn by the group members. Some dressed as African tribesmen, others in regular clothing, and of course, Lester Bowie in his lab coat. 

The music itself portrays the entire range of the group's repertoire: marches, dance tunes, quiet passages, and sonic details most groups cannot create. Most memorable is the sequence of "Ancestral Meditation" and "Uncle." The meditation is seven minutes of a quiet drone that is awakened by a squawking low sax launching the epic 17+ minutes of "Uncle," which then segues into the brief "Peter and Judith." (On the LP, the transition between "Uncle" and "Peter and Judith" is unfortunately interrupted and resumed only after flipping the record over. This problem does not exist on the digital download.) The sonic drama is palpable and clearly rendered. Great stuff!

As they say, if you only have room in your collection for one AEC album, this is the one to have. However, you should rethink your priorities and make room for more from this exceptional band.