Nice Guys

by The Art Ensemble of Chicago

Overview

Nice Guys was the first Art Ensemble of Chicago album released after a five-year recording hiatus and the group's first for the ECM label. During those five years, the Art Ensemble toured Europe and continued to expand its compositional, improvisational, and theatrical jazz fundamentals, captured abundantly on Nice Guys. Broken up into six pieces, two each from Roscoe Mitchell and Joseph Jarman and one each from Lester Bowie and Don Moye, the album reveals how the AEC managed to turn individual compositions into a fully realized, surprisingly accessible, avant garde group collective. Nice Guys maintains its edge while incorporating reggae, New Orleans marches, and a wide use of space complemented by "little instruments" (car horn, whistles, etc.). The strongest portion of the disc is the finale "Dreaming of the Master," dedicated to Miles Davis and sounding not unlike Davis' mid-'60s quintet -- while maintaining the AEC edge. ~ Al Campbell

Product Details

Release Date:	09/12/2000
Label:	Ecm
UPC:	0042282787620
Rank:	93802

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Art Ensemble of Chicago   Primary Artist,Ensemble,Orchestra
Malachi Favors Maghostus   Primary Artist
Joseph Jarman   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor),Multi Instruments,Whistle (Instrument),Gong,Flute,Congas,Conch Shell,Vibraphone,Sax (Alto),Saxophone,Vocals,Clarinet
Roscoe Mitchell   Primary Artist,Gong,Oboe,Flute,Piccolo,Clarinet,Saxophone,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Multi Instruments
Lester Bowie   Primary Artist,Celeste,Trumpet,Drums (Bass),Multi Instruments
Famoudou Don Moye   Primary Artist,Gong,Horn,Bells,Drums,Bongos,Chimes,Congas,Marimba,Timpani,Percussion,Conch Shell,Sun Percussion,Whistle (Human),Multi Instruments
Malachi Favors   Melodica,Percussion,Multi Instruments,Bass

Technical Credits

Isio Saba   Photography
Barbara Wojirsch   Design
Roberto Masotti   Photography
Manfred Eicher   Producer
Famoudou Don Moye   Composer
Roscoe Mitchell   Composer
Lester Bowie   Composer
Martin Wieland   Engineer
Joseph Jarman   Composer