by Scott Yanow
This CD reissue starts off so weird (with verbal sound explorations by Malachi Favors) that it might scare away some listeners. It is best to skip &Tutankhamun& altogether and put on &The Ninth Room& which has fine solos from altoist Roscoe Mitchell, trumpeter Lester Bowie and Joseph Jarman on alto over the walking bass of Favors. The other selection (&Tthinitthedalen Parts 1 and 2&) consists of a pair of free improvisations by Mitchell and Favors that are passionate and sometimes a bit violent. Recorded during a period when the Art Ensemble of Chicago was between drummers, each of the musicians plays &little instruments& and percussion at times to fill in the gap. Due to the weak opener and the LP-length playing time, this is one of the Art Ensemble's lesser efforts despite &The Ninth Room.&