Lester Bowie's Sho' Nuff Orchestra

[ep1str0phy]

Did anyone here ever catch Lester's 59-piece Sho' Nuff orchestra in action? (one of the legendary ensembles that, it seems, is lost to lore--featuring many of the major AACM and BAG saxes, plus guys like Frank Lowe, Frank Wright, Charles Tyler...)

[clifford_thornton]

From what time period?

[ep1str0phy]

If you're referring to the life of the band itself (rather than where it fits into Bowie's history), than any. The idea of the group is just so mindblowing to me that I'd like to hear more.

Edited December 1, 2006 by ep1str0phy

[JohnS]

Saw a photograph once. Must have been as experience to see and hear all those guys playing together - mindblowing is right. What was it 40 plus musicians?

[clifford_thornton]

I guess what I was asking was when did this orchestra convene? More than once, I assume? Looks like a '70s thing to me, but this is the first I've heard of it.

I'm only familiar with the "Gittin' to Know Y'all" works recorded for MPS and at the 12th German Jazz Festival Frankfurt.

[ep1str0phy]

I was frankly hoping that more people could fill us in on that, although I have heard about the MPS (haven't heard it, but heard of). I'm astounded that we've got all the history on the 'net and virtually no accounts of this group.

[Eloe Omoe]

  ep1str0phy said:

I was frankly hoping that more people could fill us in on that, although I have heard about the MPS (haven't heard it, but heard of). I'm astounded that we've got all the history on the 'net and virtually no accounts of this group.

In his Bowie obituary on the Village Voice, Gary Giddins wrote that "perhaps the symbolic moment of transition between the Art Ensemble Lester and the Brass Fantasy Lester took place in February 1979 at Symphony Space, when he conducted the 59-piece Sho' Nuff Orchestra, with a cast that amazed then and seems dreamlike now; the reed section alone included Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, David Murray, Arthur Blythe, John Stubblefield, Frank Lowe, Frank Wright, and Charles Tyler." He was there, it seems.

After a Brass Fantasy concert in Florence (in 1992) I asked Lester about the Sho' Nuff thing. I can't remember all what he said, but it looks like they shared the stage with the Sun Ra Arkestra and a Cecil Taylor large ensemble.

I think that there's a photo of the band on the back cover of Lester's All the Magic LP on ECM.

That's all I know.

luca

Edited December 4, 2006 by Eloe Omoe

[orchiddoctor]

I was at both shows. mans taped both of them from the audience. Amazing evening if music.

The show appears to be up on sugarmegs.org

[uli]

wish it was better audio

 

 

[orchiddoctor]

I recorded this from the 4th row with a simple cassette recorder. The number of instruments caused obvious distortion.

But, Hey, at least it was documented!