50th Anniversary Celebratory Album On Double LP!
Iconic, innovative and internationally renowned force in avant-garde music The Art Ensemble of Chicago released their 50th anniversary celebratory album We Are On The Edge in 2019, and Erased Tapes are honored to announce the vinyl edition of this exceptional body of work.
Led by surviving founding members Roscoe Mitchell and drummer Famoudou Don Moye, these brand new recordings involve a staggering array of contemporary artists ranging from across the jazz, experimental and improvised music spheres; from the visionary poet and musician Moor Mother, trumpeters Fred Berry and Hugh Ragin, who have performed with Mitchell for over five and four decades, to bassist Jaribu Shahid, supreme cellist Tomeka Reid, celebrated flute virtuoso Nicole Mitchell and the extraordinary voice of Rodolfo Cordova-Lebron.
The double LP features a meticulous studio session of the newly assembled group of musicians, combining re-recordings of works spanning the last 50 years, some never before recorded, as well as new compositions. The sheer breadth of the ensemble's collective expression is staggering, ranging from Mitchell's art songs and through-composed pieces, Moye's percussion workouts, and, of course, collective improvisation. Particularly powerful is the contribution of Moor Mother (Camae Ayewa), who, to prepare for the recording, was given nothing more than some old Art Ensemble recordings to listen to and the directive from Mitchell to "just be you". Mitchell and Moye are now 78 and 72, respectively, but one would never guess by their outlook. There is, of course some wistfulness when looking back, particularly with the passing of Joseph Jarman earlier in 2019, but the overwhelming feeling is anticipation of what is coming next or, as Moye always says, "focus and forward motion". It's a clarion statement that Mitchell and Moye are intent on ushering The Art Ensemble of Chicago forcefully into its sixth decade. As Moor Mother declares: "We are on the edge!"
Features
- Double LP
- Lacquer cut by Barry Grint at Alchemy, London
- Gatefold jacket
- Made in the EU
Musicians
Roscoe Mitchell | sopranino, soprano and alto saxophones |
---|---|
Famoudou Don Moye | drums, congas, djembe, dundun, gongs, Congo bells, bendir, triangles, Thai bells, shakers |
Moor Mother (Camae Ayewa) | voice, poetry |
Rodolfo Cordova-Lebron | voice |
Hugh Ragin | trumpets, flugelhorn, Thai bells |
Fred Berry | trumpet, flugelhorn |
Nicole Mitchell | piccolo, flute, bass flute |
Christina Wheeler | voice, Array mbira, autoharp, Q-Chord, Moog Theremini, sampler, electronics |
Jean Cook | violin |
Edward Yoon Kwon | viola |
Tomeka Reid | cello |
Silvia Bolognesi | bass |
Jaribu Shahid | bass, tuned brass bowls |
Junius Paul | bass |
Dudu Kouate | djembe, tama / talking drum, calabashes, kanjira, whistles, chimes, bells and small percussions |
Enoch Williamson | bongos, congas, djembe, kenkeni, okonkolo, Congo bells, chekere, shakers, tama / talking drum |
Titos Sompa | vocals, congas, mbira, Congo bells, cuica, shakers |
Stephen Rush | conductor |
Selections
Side A:
- Bell Song
- We Are On The Edge
- I Greet You With Open Arms
Side B:
- Chi-Congo 50
- Jamaican Farewell Part I
- Villa Tiamo
- Saturday Morning
Side C:
- Jamaican Farewell Part II
- Mama Koko
- Fanfare And Bell
Side D:
- Variations And Sketches From The Bamboo Terrace
- Oasis At Dusk