Art Ensemble of Chicago
September 3 1975
Five Spot
NY, NY
master audience cassette > reel > cassette > cdr (transferred by orchiddoctor)
cdr > eac(secure mode) > peak pro 5.2(adjust volume, trim wave files) > flac(level 6) (tracked/edited by carville, no noise reduction)

total time 93:09

1st set 44:36
1 Illustrum, Odwalla

2nd set 48:33
1 improvisation, People In Sorrow (tape flip @ 40:06)

Lester Bowie
Malachi Favors Maghostut
Joseph Jarman
Roscoe Mitchell
Famoudou Don Moye

notes from orchiddoctor:
This is the second of thirty seven Art Ensemble shows (generally two sets each), most of which I taped, between 1975 and 1980. I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to have seen them so often and in such intimate spaces. My first show was actually 9/6/75, and it was amazing. Tunes, improvisation, theatrics � everything they were known for in their earlier years. Well worth the three year wait to see them. The Five Spot was a hole in the wall on St. Mark's in Manhattan. It seated around 100 or so people. I also saw Ornette and Don Cherry there�and Braxton. The intimacy was thrilling; we sat perhaps 20 feet from the band. Most of the shows I attended were in lofts, clubs, or smallish halls such as the Public Theater or The Village Gate.

I did a lot of photography of the loft scene and got to know the members of the band at least well enough to exchange pleasantries. I was invited backstage a few times and got to know them as people. Malachi wasn't always silent, Roscoe loved to talk about anything, Moye was always up, Jarman was kind and embracing, and Lester�well, he was Lester: talkative, rambunctious, full of energy and style.

Of the nearly thirty shows that I actually attended, I never saw two that were alike, and I was never, ever disappointed. Never.

The tapes�being 30-35 years old, hold up pretty well over all. I'd rate them in general from B�A- Caveat emptor: a few tapes run out just before the set ends, and you will hear the occasional tape hiss and other anomalies. Thanks goes to Carville for cleaning them up a bit.

notes from carville:
These tapes are overall pretty clean. Some of course are better than others but generally speaking, the smaller the venue the better the tape. This one is a 2nd gen but has almost no hiss.
There are also quite a few Art Ensemble related solo projects that orchiddoctor sent that should be forthcoming as well. Please let the man know how you feel about these tapes and his recollections. When he first told me about them three years ago I said well yeah, right, someday� Lo and behold.
Dig out those old tapes people!