In the mid-1960's, the Chicago & St. Louis jazz tradition became embodied in the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) in Chicago, and the Black Artist Group (BAG) in St. Louis. The two collectives were founded on the freedom principle & were dedicated to jazz as a living, vital expression. Oliver Lake & Julius Hemphill facilitated exchanges between the two groups - Lester Bowie, spending time in both locations, the common denominator. This album features AACM trumpeter Malachi Thompson with BAG saxmen Oliver Lake & Hamiet Bluiett.