The Art Ensemble of Chicago is an avant-garde jazz ensemble that grew out of Chicago's AACM in the late 1960s. The group continues to tour and record through 2006, despite the deaths of two of the founding members.

The Art Ensemble is notable for its integration of musical styles spanning jazz's entire history and for their multi-instrumentalism, especially the use of what they termed "little instruments" in addition to the traditional jazz lineup; "little instruments" can include bicycle horns, bells, birthday party noisemakers, wind chimes, and a vast array of percussion instruments (including found objects). The group also uses costumes and face paint in performance. These characteristics combine to make the ensemble's performances as much a visual spectacle as an aural one, with each musician playing from behind a large array of drums, bells, gongs, and other instruments. When playing in Europe in 1969, the group was using more than 500 instruments.

Art Ensemble Of Chicago ‎– The Pathé Sessions

Credits:

Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Percussion – Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell Bass – Malachi Favors Bassoon, Oboe – Joseph Jarman Composed By – Jarman* (tracks: 2 to 8), Bowie, Favors, Beasley (tracks: 1), Mitchell Design – Frédéric Posty Drums – Don Moye (tracks: 1 to 6) Executive-Producer [Directed By] – Igor Szabason Layout – Eric Dowdin Liner Notes – Alain-Guy Aknin, Philippe Crocq Liner Notes [English Translation] – Kern Percussion – Don Moye (tracks: 1 to 6), Lester Bowie, Malachi Favors Photography By [Artist Photo] – L. Flusin Photography By [Back Photo] – Michel Ginies Photography By [Cover Photo Of Paris] – Jean-François Lesénéchal Piano, Vocals – Fontella Bass (tracks: 1 to 6) Producer [Created By] – Igor Szabason, Philippe Crocq Remastered By – René Ameline Remastered By [Assistant] – Benjamin Joubert Supervised By [Collection Released By] – Nicolas Pflug Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Lester Bowie

Notes:

Recorded at Pathé Studios:

Tracks 1-6 on July 22, 1970 Tracks 7,8 on July 27, 1969