MWATA BOWDEN & THE GREAT BLACK MUSIC ENSEMBLE. A tribute to co-founder of AACM and owner of the Velvet Lounge, Fred Anderson (d. 6/24/10). Mwata Bowden attended Chicago’s DuSable High School where he studied music with the legendary Captain Walter Dyett. After classical music training at Chicago’s American Conservatory of Music, Mwata toured with the rhythm and blues group, the Chi-Lites. In 1974, he became active in Chicago’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), serving as its chair, and performing with the AACM Big Band which changed its name to The Great Black Music Ensemble. Mwata plays the family of clarinets, tenor and baritone saxophones, as well as the flute and the didgeridoo. He is Director of Jazz Ensembles at the University of Chicago. The Great Black Music Ensemble is comprised of members of the AACM which, this year, celebrates its 45th anniversary. The Ensemble has been described as offering “the excitement of new sounds and rhythms, while incorporating the traditions of black music including funk, reggae, bebop, swing, and more.” Saxophones: Fred Jackson; Ernest Dawkins; Douglas Ewart; Edward House; Mwata Bowden. Trumpets: Leon Q Allen; Jerome Croswell; Ben Lamar Gay. Flute: Nicole Mitchell. Cello: Tomeka Reid. Vocals: Dee Alexander; Saalik Ziyad; Taalib Din Ziyad. Bass: Dawi Williams; Drums: Sam Jewel.
Website: http://music.uchicago.edu/people/performance_staff/bowden.shtml
