Nicole Michell's Black Earth Ensemble - Xenogenesis Suite

Nicole Michell's Black Earth Ensemble Xenogenesis Suite - A Tribute To Octavia Butler

Mankwe Ndosi - vcl; David Young - tp; Nicole Mitchell - flt; David Boykin - ts; Tomeka Reid - cel; Justin Dillard - p; Josh Abrams - b; Marcus Evans - d; Avreeayl Ra - perc
Firehouse 12 Records
Recorded June 20, 2007 at Firehouse 12 in New Haven, CT

Chicago's Nicole Michell brings us a troubling and searing piece of music dedicated to the work of the late novelist Octavia Butler. This music is in the tradition of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), a 40 year old institution whose formation represented Chicago's reaction to the mostly New York-based Jazz Avant Guard of the 60s. Mitchell continues in the tradition of Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, Muhal Richard Abrams and Roscoe Mitchell and demonstrates that the AACM's original vision remains vital.

The playing here is impecable and Nicole's careful weaving of composed and improvised passages never misses its mark. This is ensemble music, and while it's clear that everyone involved is an accomplished soloist, the group sound is the real point. Ndosi's vocals are integral part of this sound and as jarring as the vocal effects are, her musicality comes through. If you want a challenging, and maybe to uninitiated ears, confounding, listen, then check this one out.