This 1968 album is a sprawling, ambitious work that captures a specific moment in the avant-garde jazz scene, showcasing a large ensemble grappling with composed structures and free improvisation.
- The album was a co-production of the Jazz Composers Orchestra Association (JCOA) and RCA Records’ Bluebird label.
- Cecil Taylor’s solo piano improvisation “Unit Structures” occupies the entirety of side one.
- The ensemble included notable musicians such as Pharoah Sanders, Grachan Moncur III, Roswell Rudd, and Archie Shepp.
The Jazz Composer’s Orchestra was a collective of musicians founded in New York City in 1965 to facilitate the performance of large-scale works by improvising musicians. The group’s 1968 debut album, "The Jazz Composer’s Orchestra," was an ambitious undertaking that featured a wide array of improvisers and composers from the era.
Tracklist