Roscoe Mitchell Quartet

For more than 40 years, multi-instrumentalist Roscoe Mitchell’s innovation as an improvisor, composer, and solo performer has placed him at the forefront of modern music. In Chicago, in the early 60’s he led a hard bop sextet which gradually moved into freer sonic territory. He was a member of Muhal Richard Abrams’ Experimental Band and in 1965 was a founding member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Mitchell’s monumental Sound album in 1966 introduced a new way of freely improvising, utilizing silence as well as high energy, and “little instruments” as well as conventional horns. Lester Bowie and Malachi Favors were on that date as well as Mitchell’s 1967 follow-up, Old/Quartet. With the addition of Joseph Jarman and Philip Wilson (later succeeded by Famoudou Don Moye), the Art Ensemble of Chicago was born. The Art Ensemble was one of the most popular groups in the jazz avant-garde. Mitchell (who, in addition to his alto and tenor saxophones, plays clarinet, flute, piccolo, oboe, baritone and bass saxophones) has always been, and continues to be involved in numerous adventurous projects ranging from large ensembles to unaccompanied solo concerts. He is the recipient of many honors and awards. He has conducted numerous workshops and has held numerous artist-in-resident positions throughout the world. The Roscoe Mitchell Quartet includes Corey Wilkes, trumpet; Harrison Bankhead, bass, & Vincent Davis, drums.

$20/$15 Members. Available in advance, by phone or in person, at the Outpost Performance Space (268-0044)