Avant-Garde Jazz Collective | 1966-present

The Art Ensemble of Chicago emerged from the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) in the late 1960s, becoming one of the twentieth century's most influential avant-garde collectives. Founded by saxophonists Roscoe Mitchell and Joseph Jarman, bassist Malachi Favors, and trumpeter Lester Bowie, they first recorded as the Roscoe Mitchell Sextet on 1966's Sound for Delmark. By 1969 the quartet relocated to Paris, adopting the Art Ensemble of Chicago name and recording 15 albums before returning to the United States in 1971. Drummer Don Moye joined in 1970, cementing the classic lineup.

Operating under the motto "Great Black Music: Ancient to the Future", they fused traditional jazz, African music, modern classical, blues, and rock whilst embracing multi-instrumentalism and theatrical performance. They employed "little instruments" including bicycle horns, bells, and found objects alongside traditional instruments, performing in costumes and face paint to create both aural and visual spectacles. Signed to Atlantic in 1971, they formed AECO label in 1978 before joining ECM. Jarman retired in 1993 and died in 2019. The group continues with Mitchell and Moye leading, maintaining their legacy as pioneers who transcended jazz genre boundaries through adventurous sonic exploration and cooperative musical practices.