Sound Experiments

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Founded in 1965 on Chicago's South Side, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) remains a pivotal force in jazz and experimental music. Paul Steinbeck's Sound Experiments provides a thorough historical and musical analysis of this influential collective, focusing on individual performances and innovative compositions. Key figures such as Muhal Richard Abrams and Roscoe Mitchell are highlighted, alongside notable contributions from Anthony Braxton, George Lewis—who is known for his computer-music project, Voyager—Wadada Leo Smith, and Henry Threadgill. The work also acknowledges younger AACM artists like Mike Reed, Tomeka Reid, and Nicole Mitchell. Steinbeck captures a sonic history that spans six decades, revealing insights into both the musicians and the collective's unique aesthetic. This aesthetic emphasizes the importance of communal ties across generations and a commitment to experimentation. The AACM's groundbreaking compositions blurred the lines between jazz and experimental music, significantly enriching African American expression. Steinbeck illustrates how these innovative creators developed new approaches to instrumentation, notation, conducting, musical form, and technology, ultimately crafting fresh soundscapes in contemporary music.