Streaming

"George Lewis has been working the wavering line between jazz and contemporary classical thinking, and that potentially dangerous polystylistic attitude rings triumphant here ... his own voyage continues to be compelling, and, thankfully, impossible to pigeonhole." -- JAZZTIMES

"A brief glimpse into the rich world and mind of Muhal Richard Abrams." -- DOWN BEAT

"The master conceptualist of the AACM, [Roscoe Mitchell] has a firm empirical base even at his most outlandish; he always gives you a clear view of the formal problem he's trying to solve." -- NEW YORK TIMES

A recording by Muhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis, or Roscoe Mitchell is occasion for notice and celebration. A recording by all three of them together is a historic musical moment. Abrams, founder of the AACM; Mitchell, founder of the Art Ensemble of Chicago; and Lewis, recipient of the MacArthur Grant's "Genius Award"--together on record for the first time as a trio! Enough has been written about these three men to fill volumes of jazz and creative music history books, but it is the musical documents that tell us the most. Here, we have five pieces recorded in Spring 2005 that explore elements of interest for all three composers: electronics, open playing, contemporary classical, jazz, and the use of space.

"Scrape" features each artist performing on his instrument of notoriety: piano, trombone, and sax. "Bound" is a duet between Mitchell and Lewis, with the latter working on his sampling and electronics gear. As the music segues into "Dramaturns," Abrams opens with a playful descending line beginning a duet between himself and Lewis. The final two tracks feature trio music that incorporates percussion and bird sounds, and all three men embrace the moment as the historic occasion that it was. Pi Recordings takes great pleasure in releasing this music. The label hopes that it is not the last time that they have the occasion to do so, and they are happy to say that there is enough here to satisfy.