Join us in the PW Main Hall for The Art Ensemble of Chicago this May 7, 2023.

Over 50 years ago, Roscoe Mitchell and Famoudou Don Moye co-founded this legendary avant-jazz collective with the late Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, and Malachi Favors Maghostut. Today, they're still going strong in their seventies, and are now joined by a who's who of younger experimental musicians. Join us as we celebrate the lasting impact of these trailblazers.

The lineup includes Roscoe Mitchell (soprano saxophone, flute), Famoudou Don Moye (drums, djembe, percussion), Moor Mother (spoken word), Simon Sieger (trombone, piano), Junius Paul (bass), and eddy kwon (violin).

This performance is part of Long Play 2023—a three-day "supercharged musical ride through right now," taking place from May 5–7. Both individual concert and full festival tickets, which include over 50 concerts throughout Brooklyn, are available for purchase.

About the Artists

The Art Ensemble of Chicago is a musical entity that evolved from founder Roscoe Mitchell's musical vision, explorations and adventurous collaborations in Chicago of the early and mid sixties.

The Art Ensemble of Chicago is renowned for its integration of musical styles that span the history of jazz and multi instrumental group improvisations. Their musical universe is enhanced by the creative use of unique sounds and percussions-aka little instruments, traditional hand and stick drums, whistles, horns, bells, chimes, vibes, marimba, gongs of all sizes and an array of home made and found sound objects that serve each individual musician as an extension of their personality on their principal instruments of saxophones, flutes, trumpet and flugelhorn, double bass and drum set. Their live performances of original compositions written by all the members have also included elaborate costumes, face paint, props, theater, poetry, dance and more to create a visual, auditory and sensual spectacle.

Throughout the sixties the members of The Art Ensemble of Chicago performed and recorded in numerous groups under various names. After critical acclaim in the national and international jazz press for their personal performances and recordings, Roscoe Mitchell, Joseph Jarman, Lester Bowie and Malachi Favors decided to continue their musical adventures and travelled together to Paris in 1969 where they became known as The Art Ensemble of Chicago, an extension of the original Roscoe Mitchell Art Ensemble. Upon their arrival in Paris they were immediately contracted to perform a one month engagement at the legendary Theatre Lucernaire in Montparnasse. They also performed numerous concerts throughout France and proceeded to record albums as a group and individually in collaboration with the many important american musicians on the Paris scene in that period.

In 1970 the group recorded the sound track for the french film «Les Stances à Sophie» a cult classic featuring the voice of Fontella Bass and which was the first recording with new drummer Don Moye.

In 1971 the group returned to United States as a quintet and began their six decade history of performances and recordings on the international jazz circuit.

The group has released more than 70 live performances, studio recordings, videos and DVDs on a variety of labels including Atlantic Records, ECM Records, Disk Union, Nessa Records, Delmark Records, Pi Recordings and their own label AECO Records founded in 1975.

The personnel of The Art Ensemble of Chicago has changed several times with the early retirement and return of Joseph Jarman, the death of Lester Bowie in 1999 and the death of Malachi Favors in 2004.

The willingness to support each member's individual musical interests and personal goals continues to contribute to this group's amazing longevity.

Presented as part of Bang on A Can's Long Play Festival.