All the Numbers CD (Nessa Records)

This 2-CD set features Lester Bowie's earliest recordings from 1967, alongside his collaborators from the Roscoe Mitchell Art Ensemble. Originally released in a condensed form as "Numbers 1 & 2" on a single LP, these two discs encompass all the studio material from two recording sessions. The initial session was a trio with Malachi Favors (bass, etc.) and Roscoe Mitchell (saxophones, etc.), while the second session introduced reed virtuoso Joseph Jarman. These historic recordings mark the birth of the quartet later renowned as the Art Ensemble of Chicago, offering unique variations on thematic material and insights into the group's creative process.