The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), a non-profit tax-exempt arts organization co-founded in 1965 by Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams, Jodie Christian, Kelan Phil Cohran, and Steve McCall, is one of the oldest musicians associations in the United States. Since its founding in Chicago, Illinois in 1965, the organization's members have developed a body of work that encompasses
the spectrum of traditional and contemporary music. a non-profit tax-exempt entity was established in 1983. functions as an ensemble of composers and performers whose mission is to present concerts that feature world premieres, which are composed by AACM members. The AACM is significantly unique in that it has nurtured and brought to fruition so many accomplished composers and performers. The organization's artists have developed a body of work that has achieved lasting significance across borders of music genres and geography to play a critical role in the ever evolving process of music creation and its vital influence throughout the world. AACM members who have been featured in our programs include: Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Henry Threadgill, Thurman Barker, Frank Gordon, Adegoke Steve Colson, Iqua Colson, Chico Freeman, Amina Claudine Myers, George Lewis, Reggie Nicholson, Leonard Jones, Peggy Abrams, Richarda Abrams and posthumously Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams, Joseph Jarman, Leroy Jenkins, Kalaparusha Ahra Difda, Lester Bowie, Steve McCall, Fred Anderson, John Stubblefield and Fred Hopkins.
