Probably the greatest album ever by the
Art Ensemble of Chicago – and also one
of their rarest! The album was cut for Pathe Marconi in Paris in 1970, and was the soundtrack to a film that was as obscure as the album. The group's never been finer – and plays with a creative tightness that you'll be hard pressed to find on other record. Some tracks are almost straight jazz – but there's all these wonderful little breakdowns and burst
of creative energy that keep the AACM spirit alive and true. The centerpiece
of the album is the massive "Theme De Yoyo", a righteous powerful groover that features vocals by Fontella Bass (wife
of Lester Bowie
of the group), and which has become an all-time jazz dance classic! Other tracks have a sparer soundtracky feel, and a few more are in the experimental vein
of the
Art Ensemble's other Paris work at the time. Wonderful overall though – and an incredibly righteous album filled with power and imagination! Titles include "Theme De Celine", "Proverbes", "Theme Libra", and "Variations Sur Un Theme De Monteverdi". Very hard to find original French pressing – with different cover image!
(Jazz, Soundtracks)