Disturbin’ the Piece is Art Cromwell’s two-part birthday retrospective of alto saxophonist Jackie McLean (born 5.17.31) alongside an archival interview, words & music by Archie Shepp (born 5.24.37).
Though just six years apart, these two saxophonists represent two distinct generations of Jazz musicians – Bebop and the Avant/Garde’s New Wave. While Jackie’s approach included advanced forms, he nonetheless maintained his Bop credentials.
Archie, on the other hand, included an older sound to his horn, while incorporating a musicological overview of Jazz often incorporating spoken word that addressed the political and cultural contexts of the music in the Diaspora.