This set is one of the legendary early AACM releases.
Joseph Jarman (heard on alto, bassoon and soprano in addition to fife and recorder) is featured shortly before he became a member of
the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Some of his sidemen would become well-known (pianist Richard Abrams, tenors
Fred Anderson and
John Stubblefield), while others remained obscure or short-lived (bassist
Charles Clark, drummer
Thurman Barker, flutist
Joel Brandon, trumpeter
John Jackson and trombonist
Lester Lashley). The two lengthy group improvisations (
Sherri Scott adds her voice to "Song for Christopher") contrast sound and silence, noise with more conventional sounds, "little instruments" with powerful saxophones. Certainly not for everyone's taste, the truly open-eared will find the innovative results quite intriguing.