Mitchell and Jarman's musical lineage stretches back to the beginnings of free jazz via the Art Ensemble of Chicago (along with Lester Bowie and Malachi Favors), and before that as founders of the highly influential AACM (the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) in 1965. The AACM can count internationally known jazz musicians Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, Wadada Leo Smith, and Muhal Richard Abrams as former members, among others.

The Art Ensemble was unquestionably a groundbreaking band. In the late '60s and early '70s, the Art Ensemble helped pioneer the fusion of jazz with European art music and indigenous African musics. - All Music Guide

Both Mitchell and Jarman have remained vital forces in music through their solo performance, composition, and improvisation, placing them at the vanguard of not only jazz, but of modern music.

In 2004, Mitchell released Solo 3, an ambitious 3 CD set of solo saxophone and percussion works. About Mitchell's work Mathew Sumera of the Jazz and improvised music webzine One Final Note wrote, "Mitchell's sound world is one of heterogeneous homogeneity...It is not that he lacks the ability to strive toward a unified statement; again, he simply chooses not to. Unity can just as easily be achieved without compromise, without modifying the personality of a single statement - simply place one against the other. It is not some sort of smashed, forced, postmodern sensibility. It is a commitment to the fact that sounds exist together. We hear simultaneity."

Joseph Jarman's work takes in a wide variety of influences, including jazz, western music (especially Webern and John Cage), Asian music and theater and African music. Because of his collaborative work with poets, dancers and other artists, he is sometimes called the first "multi-media" jazz musician. In 1990, Jarman was ordained a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist priest. His devotion to Asian philosophy and meditation has brought much to his musicianship, especially the values of breath and silence. Jarman summarizes the many strands of his experience as an interest in "the sound of the universe." He last performed in Los Angeles in 2003 as a part of sound. at the Schindler House in an evening of solo works and in a trio with legendary bassist Henry Grimes and percussionist Alex Cline.

Mitchell and Jarman's particular brand of jazz music - based on free expression and ethno-polyrhythms and interplay - remains influential. These enduring musicians continue to shape modern music for listeners interested in challenging current musical conventions.

This event is part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2006 Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations. For a complete season schedule, directions to the theater and parking information, log on to www.FordAmphitheatre.org.

sound. is a project of The Society for the Activation of Social Space through Art and Sound (SASSAS) and is supported in part through grants from the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the West Hollywood Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission, a special donation from Amoeba Music, and the generous contributions of our members. For further information on SASSAS: www.sassas.org or phone 323/960-5723.