Happy Birthday Roscoe Mitchell

There are a certain number of concerts I could have easily gone to, but didn't. These concerts include Tim Berne's Caos Totale, Jim Black's AlasNoAxis, a Bill Frisell concert, a Kurt Rosenwinkel concert and Drew Gress's 7 Black Butterflies band. I also wish I had gotten tickets to both sets of a mindblowing Sonny Fortune and Rashied Ali duo hit but maybe that would've just been too much.

At any rate, the concert I regret missing most is Roscoe Mitchell at the Vancouver Jazz Festival. Roscoe turns 69 today and I still don't know that much about his playing, though I have been making a conscious effort to listen to alot of his and other AACM music. (One day I will read George Lewis' book, "A Power Stronger Than Itself")

Here is a list of the records I enjoy that feature Roscoe Mitchell's playing:

Roscoe Mitchell - Sound, Noonah
Art Ensemble of Chicago - Reese and the Smooth Ones, Nice Guys

There is much, much, much more. Getting into this music took time, though it surely rewards thorough listening. Nonetheless, I can't but feel that getting into it would've been easier after seeing the man live and in the flesh. This music just makes more sense that way. I don't know whether I'll ever get a chance to see Roscoe Mitchell and once he's gone, decoding his message will be that much harder, for both future improvisors and myself.

There is a great interview with the man here.