Reddit reviews A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music
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Good answer! The Jazz Record Mart is a great resource - home also to Delmark records, with a rich catalog of Jazz & Blues.
Chicago is also important in the development of Free Jazz in the '60's and '70s', with the AACM including a wealth of influential figures like the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, Muhal Richard Abrams and many more. They remain active, staging events like their Chicago Jazz Fest after-parties - often the highlight of proceedings. For the whole story check George Lewis' book - A Power Stronger Than Itself.
In the '90's and '00's another wave of free music activity began, focused on the efforts of reed players Fred Anderson, Ken Vandermark and critic John Corbett, and Bruno Johnson's Okka Disk label. Another group of Free Jazz and free improv players emerged, often collaborating with an influx of visiting luminaries - see Peter Brotzmann's Chicago Tentet, for example. You can follow the continued activity of this community at Umbrella Music. Also, watch for shows at Elastic Arts in Logan Square, and Constellation (including this year's Chicago Jazz after-fest 8/29-30).
Chicago Jazz Festival 2014 has a pretty good line-up, too - showing some renewed vitality after its move to Millenium Park. Also watch for next year's Hyde Park Jazz Festival and the year-long AACM celebrations of their 50th anniversary.
a power stronger than itself is a history of the association for the advancement of creative musicians. it's well-written, politically aware without baraka's stridentness, and quite possibly the first you'll have heard about most of these fantastic musicians.