Joseph Jarman, Song for (side A)

Joseph Jarman's 1967 debut predates his time in the Art Ensemble—Song for features AACM notables Fred Anderson, Billy Brimfield, Steve McCall, and Thurman Barker. It's a very diverse record, from the dense, full-bore "Little Fox Run" to the sparse narrative of "Non-Cognitive Aspects of the City". Despite the slightly murky sound in the loudest parts, the dynamic range of the group is well-preserved. The loud parts aren't as dense as the energy jazz in New York at the time—they present a different notion of how to bring density and power to a jazz idiom. The quiet parts are a classic document of unique AACM pointillist minimalism. The retro cover is striking and beautiful—minimal and aggressive at the same time, just like the music.