Jazz Notes TM The Journal of the Jazz Journalists AssociationSM Vol. 19, No. 1 • Spring 2008 From the Editor 3 Reviewing a long-awaited book. President’s Report 4 On Great Black Music Digital Promo: Bring It On 5 A Power Stronger Than Itself: By Andrey Henkin The AACM and American IAJE Invades Toronto 6 Experimental Music By Willard Jenkins By George E. Lewis Kurt Mohr 7 University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, 2008; 672 pp.; By Ron Sweetman $35.00 hardcover Indian Jazz Revisited 8 8 Review by Alain Drouot By Max Babi his could very well be the most Frank Morgan 10 anticipated book of the year. Since George Lewis announced his plans By Laurence Svirchev T for a book on the Association for the Ad- vancement of Creative Musicians (A ACM), Book Reviews 11 the influential organization founded in By Art Lange, Mikayla Gilbreath Chicago in 1965, there has been much and Marcela Breton speculation as to when it would finally be published, not to mention the reasons for New Members 14 what seemed to be recurring postpone- ments. dustry in the first half of the 20th century News of Members 15 The long wait is now over and patience followed them when they pursued their will be rewarded. George Lewis’s ency- vision of a forward-looking music in the R.I.P., Late 2007 16 clopedic knowledge, thorough research ensuing years. Lewis describes at length and in-depth interviews have produced how the AACM struggled — and is still Six Clarinets 17 an eye-opening work. In terms of expec- struggling — to be recognized for its in- tations, it should be noted, however, that novations and contributions. Every time IN THIS ISSUE IN By Laurence Svirchev & Paul de Barros Lewis’s purpose is not to present a musical black musicians have moved the music in analysis of the output of AACM members, new directions, a supposed lack of con- but to trace a contextualized history of nection to the tradition has been cited the organization. Another goal is to reas- JAZZ NOTES HAS GONE DIGITAL. and used to dismiss their output. And sert its significance in the development of somehow this criticism is rarely applied This issue of Jazz Notes is American experimental music, which has to white musicians. The question of rac- available in PDF only. been underestimated in the past. ism is therefore central to Lewis’s book. To download future issues or to Avant-garde and New Music have never Indeed, it was the issue of racism that discuss this change, visit had mass appeal, but the discrimination www.jazzhouse.org black musicians suffered in the music in- continued on next page | » » | AACM: from previous page prompted the creation of the AACM to point out contradictions between Jazz Notes and later resurfaced in an internal de- testimonies (his account inadvertently bate, resulting in white artists being presents two versions of Famoudou Don the quarterly journal of the ruled out for membership. Moye joining the Art Ensemble of Chi- cago). He also provides as many points Jazz Journalists Association Written from the point of view of an of view as possible when trying to shed insider (Lewis has been an AACM light on points of contention — the dis- Editor member since 1971), the book has to cussion about Sun Ra’s potential influ- David R. Adler be commended for its objectivity and ence is quite engaging in this regard. honesty. The author never tries to em- On the other hand, transcripts of the Associate Editor bellish the facts and refuses to dodge first few AACM meetings (Abrams had James Hale any controversy. In fact, over the years, the habit of recording all discussions) quite a few questions have created ten- Art Director make for one of the book’s highlights, sion within the outfit. For instance, the Forrest Dylan Bryant AACM was reluctant to accept women as they suffer no doubts and reveal the personalities as well as the concerns of (today, flutist Nicole Mitchell is co- Photo Editor chair). And one of the most fascinat- the participants. Laurence Svirchev ing turning points was coping with the Lewis enjoys digressions, but he knows great Chicago–New York divide that how to turn them into value added. He Circulation Manager has plagued the jazz world and ended always provides a context and shows Joseph Petrucelli up poisoning relations between AACM that the organization did not exist in a members. By the late ’70s a significant vacuum, but was a reaction to its times. Editorial Consultants contingent of AACM musicians had mi- For instance, he describes less success- Howard Mandel grated to New York, including the two W. Royal Stokes remaining cofounders, Muhal Richard ful attempts at organizing musicians Abrams and the late Steve McCall (the through the experiences of the Black David Franklin other two, Jodie Christian and Phil Artists Group in St. Louis or the Jazz Cohran, had already left the organiza- Artists Guild in New York, accounts tion). The AACM faced a crisis, and its that highlight the AACM’s relative sus- Editorial Correspondence Chicago constituents fought a tough tainability. This year, the AACM will David R. Adler battle to maintain the Windy City as celebrate its 48th anniversary, quite a 2122 Kater Street the home base. feat for a musicians’ collective. Ventur- Philadelphia, PA 19146-1215 ing into sociology and music criticism, Though Lewis’s book does not dispel Lewis attempts to explain the organi- (215) 366-1099 the impression that the first two gen- zation’s lack of commercial and critical [email protected] erations are more important musically success. than the last two, it provides some useful information about the organiza- Factual mistakes are so scarce, and Circulation tion’s latest developments and intro- have such minimal impact, that they Joseph Petrucelli duces many of the newer members who do not require elaboration. More ques- 74 Jewel St., 2nd Floor have risen to lead the AACM in Chicago. tionable is Lewis’s love for packing Brooklyn, NY 11222 What the book does not mention is a stories so full of information that the lack of visibility; to this day the AACM narrative can lose its fluidity, making (917) 292-4901 has failed to make its presence felt. It it hard to keep track of time frames [email protected] rents a space (a cubicle, in fact) at the or musicians discussed. Overall, it is a Jazz Institute of Chicago and its web- pleasant read, scholarly but not overly © 2007 Jazz Journalists Association, Inc. site was only recently overhauled, after All rights reserved. Reproduction of this academic in tone, covering a wide sty- being in limbo for quite a few years. publication, as a whole or in any part, listic range — from essay to storytelling Also, while it might have fallen outside without prior written permission of the Jazz to autobiography to an astute virtual Journalists Association, Inc. is prohibited. of the scope of Lewis’s book, it would meeting that closes the book and serves jazz journalists association, who asked have been interesting to learn about as a potent evaluation of the AACM’s you, anyway? and jazz awards are service the evolution of the AACM’s induction current status and look at the future. marks or registered service marks of the process and the reasons behind it. Jazz Journalists Association, Inc. jazz notes < < < is a trademark and service mark of the Jazz The biggest challenge of such a project Journalists Association, Inc. All other marks is relying on recollections that are as Additional book reviews begin on are the property of their respective owners. much as 40 years old. Lewis is quick page 11 of this issue. JAZZ NOTES • Vol. 19, No. 1 — Spring 2008 2 Jazz Journalists Making Change Association s you know, dear readers, a cussion in the world would not fill the promoting the interests of shortfall in the JJA treasury JJA treasury to the necessary levels. journalists covering jazz A has led us to an unavoidable For that, we need a concerted fundrais- decision: to publish Jazz Notes as a PDF ing effort — and not just for Jazz Notes c/o Village Postal document only, and to make but for plenty of other JJA 151 1st Avenue it available online. The deci- initiatives, as you’ll find New York, NY 10003 sion will hold for the indefi- discussed in Howard Man- nite future. We’d like noth- Noah Kalina del’s report on page 4. If [email protected] ing more than to be able to you have deep pockets, afford the ever-rising print or fundraising and grant- Board of Directors and postage costs that en- writing expertise and time Howard Mandel sure the physical delivery of to devote to the JJA’s im- President & Executive Director Jazz Notes to your door. But portant mission, please let James Hale, Vice President for the JJA to accrue debt in us hear from you. this fashion would be irre- From the Forrest Dylan Bryant sponsible. It’s worth noting that our Susan Fox Editor online move, however Gary Giddins To date, feedback on our problematic, is in keeping Reuben Jackson move to digital-only has David R. Adler with industry develop- Fred Jung been sparse. However, Bert ments in the new millen- Vuijsje of Amsterdam expressed his dis- nium. Antonio Terzo, one of the JJA’s Membership Secretary may in a recent email: Italian members, publishes a respected email-zine called jazzColo[u]rs, de- Jerry D’Souza I just started downloading the livered via PDF much like Jazz Notes 209 Hollyberry Trail new Jazz Notes, but I must say (online at jazzcolours.it).