Art Ensemble of Chicago
Posted by: Dev B on 02 February 2004
I had a bit of an ECM day yesterday, spinning "Universal Syncopations" by Miroslav Vituous, the mesmerizing "The Rain" by Ghazal (a Persian, Indian Classical album and of my best of 2003) and the "Tribute to Lester" by the Art Ensemble of Chicago. I always find tribute albums very moving for some reason since they always carry a personal message in the album cover and more often that not you have a heightened state of emotion in the music - you feel sad but moved. Ali Akbar Khan released a tribute album to Nikhil Banerjee with them both playing and it nearly had me in tears. Anyway today I got the news that Malachi Favors Mgahostut, bassist for the Art Ensemble fo Chicago has also passed away
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by sideshowbob
Damn, I hope that's not true, but if it is, RIP.
One of the giants.
-- Ian
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by sideshowbob
Well, the home page of the AACM shows it is true, he died on January 31st.
Very very sad day. Time to play some AEoC.
-- Ian
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by John C
I've been playing People in Sorrow for the past few days (my favourite AEC record) and Leo Smith's Golden Quartet recent wonderful "Year of the Elephant" with Favors on bass.
John
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by Jim Ashton
Oh dear this IS sad news, the AEOC minus two is almost unthinkable and Favors' work outside the band will also be sorely missed.
I might have to have a (probably somewhat lachrymose) little session tonight.
'People In Sorrow' was (I think) my very first AEOC purchase - on Nessa vinyl (together with Bowie's 'Numbers 1 & 2') at a gig of theirs at the Roundhouse Chalk Farm sometime in the late 70s. Thereafter I became a fanatical AEOC hunter & collector (I'm not normally quite such a completist) and still possess just about everything they have ever recorded though doubtless a couple will have escaped my notice.
Time for a wander down some dusty old grooves then...
John C: I totally agree with you re.'Year of the Elephant', love it to bits. The AACM has been truly a staggeringly fecund source of musical juice over the years.
RIP Malachi
Jim
