The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians is indeed an innovative and highly committed organization. The non-profit group which saw its beginnings in Chicago, Illinois chiefly by the pianist Muhal Richard Abrams, Jodie Christian who is a pianist, drummer Steve McCall as well as composer Phil Cochran has responded extremely well to create support for up and coming artists who lack institutional support in the world of art and music.
With a charter that promotes performing and nurturing serious recorded music, the AACM has been working tirelessly since 1965 to promote various sections of music which have otherwise been pretty much overlooked. Their response to the lack of political support was pretty much overwhelming. Facing indifferent support as well as indifferent response from audiences, the group organized classes for inner city youths who may perhaps have never had this opportunity to showcase their splendid and exceptional talents. This also resulted in the growing and nurturing of new talent which today is taking the jazz world by storm.
Obviously since most AACM members came from a jazz background, they have had considerable influence on this genre. Still since jazz and other musical styles have taken a sort of different turn in recent years, the AACM’s influence has waned slightly and is not what it used to be. Another innovative way of creating interest for the group was its pioneering series of recordings which have really kept the name of the artists alive and has acted as an important gauge for success.
Other musicians who have formed part of the AACM at one time or another and who still exert considerable influence on its operations are Leroy Jenkins, Lester Bowie and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. The AACM is particularly active in that city and has brought considerable success and discovery to a vast series of artists who have won important recording contracts through the influence of the AACM.
Amongst the labels for which AACM members have recorded, one may find Delmark Records, Avant Gard Jazz and the Black saint label. Other members have also made a noise on more well diffused labels such as ECM Records. Musical education programmes are also part and parcel of the AACM’s operations with Muhal Richard Abrams having organized countless types of these sessions which have proved immensely popular with young and upcoming artists.
The AACM was very active politically in promoting the cause of the African American people who suffered from double insularity in the 1960’s and 70’s. Their organization of concerts which created awareness for the plight of the black woman also created a sense of momentum and forward looking approaches to the situation at the time. This approach is still pretty much relevant today especially with the continual degradation of the Voting rights Act that has remained slightly taboo in certain states. Young black artists should look to the AACM for support in their endeavours since they are themselves suffering from double insularity as they are compartmentalized into a section that does not include beauty and the black skin. The goals of the AACM remain as relevant and direct as they were in the past years of the 60’s and 70’s although their message must change to reflect the signs of the times.
Works Cited:
Litweiler, John (1984). The Freedom Principle: Jazz After 1958. Da Capo. ISBN 0-306-80377-1.
Chinen, Nate (May 2, 2008). "Four Decades of Music That Redefined Free". The New York Times. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
