Art Ensemble Of Chicago* – The Third Decade

Among the many fantastic albums by AEOC, this one still sticks out. Side A starts with 'Prayer for Jimbo Kwesi', one of my all-time favourites with its slightly delayed dancing beat running in beautiful circles driven by Malachi Favor's melodious bassline. 'Funky AECO' is exactly that, funky and a lot of fun. The final 'Walking in the Moonlight' is a very traditional ballad, quite untypical for the group. Side B features the percussive side of AEOC, with 'The Bell Piece' sounding as the title suggests and 'Third Decade' a polyrhythmic firework led by Famoudou Don Moye mounding into menacing sirens. In between Lester Bowie's 'Zero', a lively up tempo ride featuring Bowie and both saxofonists, Mitchell and Jarman. They music seamlessly travels between decades of past and future traditions and exploration.