Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Les Stances A Sophie

445

Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Les Stances A Sophie

By

Sign in to view read count
Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Les Stances A Sophie
They formed, of course, in the American city that constitutes part of their band moniker. But this 1970 album by the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, re-released on Soul Jazz, was in fact recorded in Paris, the four main AEOC members having formed part of the late '60s exodus that also brought to France Archie Shepp, Don Cherry and Anthony Braxton.

The location is significant because Les Stances A Sophie—a soundtrack for a 1971 New Wave film of the same title, though the fact that the album pre-dates the film accounts for its stand-alone strength—is a record they would surely never have made had they stayed home. That's true in the most literal sense, because it was in France that they befriended the film's director, Moshe Mizrahi. But it's also true in broader artistic terms, the European location shining through most explicitly in the two tracks inspired by Italian Baroque composer Claudio Monteverdi, "Variations Sur Un Theme De Monteverdi i" and "ii."

Yet Western classical music formed only a relatively small part of the AEOC's outlandish vision, self-defined simply as Great Black Music: Ancient To Future. More important was indigenous African music (every member plays percussion as well as their main instrument, and some are pictured on the front cover in trademark tribal facepaint) and jazz. "Theme Libre" and "Theme De Celine" both contain the sort of free jazz freak-outs for which the Ensemble are probably best known; elsewhere the influence of blues and older jazz Forms can be felt, as well as the more obviously cinematic, low-key atmospherics of "Theme Amour Universal" and "Proverbes i."

Easily the most immediate track, however, is opener "Theme De Yoyo," where the band is joined by vocalist (and wife of trumpeter Lester Bowie) Fontella Bass, she of soul classic "Rescue Me." As the only tune previously easily available, some fans will already know it as a minor cult classic—but surely no amount of familiarity can dull the potency of these nine minutes of rapturous soul jazz.

Track Listing

Theme De Yoyo; Theme De Celine; Variations Sur Un Theme De Monteverdi i; Variations Sur Un Theme De Monteverdi ii; Proverbes i; Theme Amour Universal; Theme Libre; Proverbes ii.

Personnel

Art Ensemble Of Chicago
band / ensemble / orchestra

Roscoe Mitchell: soprano, alto and bass saxophones, clarinet, flute, percussion; Joseph Jarman: tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, flut, percussion; Lester Bowie: trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion; Malachi Favors: acoustic bass, electric bass, percussion; Don Moye: drums; Fontella Bass: vocals, piano.

Album information

Title: Les Stances A Sophie | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Soul Jazz Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.