When Famoudou Don Moye joined the Art Ensemble of Chicago in 1970, he filled the
gap that had been there since Philip Wilson left the group a
couple years earlier to tour with the Butterfield Blues Band.
Moye fit in perfectly, never just functioning as a timekeeper
or an accompanist but becoming an equal partner in the innovative
avant-garde quintet. He had studied at Wayne State University,
toured Europe with the group Detroit Free Jazz and played with
Steve Lacy before joining the Art Ensemble in Paris.
In addition
to his activities with the band, Moye has recorded with the
Black Artists Group, performed with Randy Weston, recorded with
Joseph Jarman, Don Pullen, Cecil McBee, Hamiet Bluiett, Julius
Hemphill, Chico Freeman and Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy (among
others) and since 1984 has been a member of the Leaders. He
also recorded an unaccompanied percussion date for the Art Ensemble
label AECO in 1975. -- Scott Yanow, All-Music Guide
©1999
copyright All-Music
Guide, AEC One-stop Group, Inc.
