Search - Art Ensemble of Chicago :: ECM Touchstones: Full Force

One of the best Jazz albums of the 80's

Örn Leifsson | Reykjavik Iceland. | 09/20/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw them life in Reykjavik in the early 80's and I knew nothing about them then and the show was a great experience, this was different to say the least, the guys dressed in african costumes with painted faces (except Lester Bowie who looked like a doctor) and the stage full of interesting instruments, it was grand fun.Full Force is in my opinion the best album from the group (Urban Bushmen is also great) the playing is full of passion and the compositions are higly interesting, original and just pure fun.One of the things that I really like is, apart from the traditional Jazz instruments like drumset, bass, sax and trompet they play all kinds of handdrums,percussion, bells and whistles, it's a kind of music that appeals to the emotion, intellect and the funny bone (another great guy who does that is of course Frank Zappa).Highly recommended."

One of their most accessible efforts

Örn Leifsson | 10/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the Art Ensemble's most accessible albums, with some downright mainstream sounding pieces. However, they do not compromise their vision on this album, and the album is uniformly excellent. Any fan of Charles Mingus needs to hear "Charlie M". Superb album, a highlight of recorded jazz history."

I am most interested in free jazz.

akiko bangi | gifu , japan | 09/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the most interresting music I have ever listened.

This music is instructive.

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