The Art Ensemble of Chicago is one of my favorite jazz groups, ever. This cut, “Theme Do Yoyo,” is from their 1970 album, Les Stances a Sophie, which was made for a movie soundtrack.
Personell:
Roscoe Mitchell, saxes
Famadou Don Moye, drums
Lester Bowie, trpt. flugelhorn
Malachi Favors, bass
Joseph Jarman, saxes
Fontella Bass, vocal
Listen to how it develops. We start with the bass, with the drums entering quickly. They play for a while, then the horns enter (0.28) and play a short line. They drop out, but the bass and drum continue, the drum mixing it up a bit. Then, return of the horns (0:57, who then move into freak-out mode (1:05). The horns drop out as Fontella Bass enters on vocal:
Your head is like a yo-yo
Your neck is like a string
Your body’s like Camembert
Oozing from its skin, yeahYour fanny’s like two sperm whales
Floating down the Seine
Your voice is like a long fork
That’s music to your brain, yeah
The horns freak out (01:45). And that’s what we got. Bass has some more verses to sing. The horns have solos to take. And the bass and drum anchor the whole thing with those same reliable patterns.
Wonderful.
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