The current Museum of Contemporary Art exhibition “The Freedom Principle: Experiments in Art and Music, 1965 to Now,” in part explores the history and legacy of Chicago’s massively influential Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. Reedist and composer Roscoe Mitchell was a founding member of the organization and became internationally recognized for his membership in the Art Ensemble of Chicago. But that was then. Perhaps more than any AACM figure, Mitchell looks forward, making new work and collaborating with an ever-expanding cast of dynamic, progressive musicians. In conjunction with “The Freedom Principle,” Mitchell will present four different trios during afternoon and evening concerts. For the earlier show, he joins forces with veteran trumpeter Hugh Ragin, a cohort since the 70s, and the forceful percussionist and composer Tyshawn Sorey, one of the most potent minds in creative music; the other grouping pairs Mitchell with keyboardist Craig Taborn and drummer Kikanju Baku, a trio that recently released a pair of bracing, astringent albums on Wide Hive Records. The evening concert includes a group with fellow reedist and electronics experimenter James Fei and percussionist William Winant that promises to explore Mitchell’s keen interest in experimental sounds, while the latter half features Mitchell with longtime collaborators bassist Jaribu Shahid and drummer Tani Tabbal, who ought to reaffirm his deep jazz chops.
Sun 9/27, 3 and 7:30 PM, Museum of Contemporary Art, 312-280-2660, mcachicago.org, mcachicago.org, $30.