A composer and saxophonist (mainly on alto, but he will play just about any woodwind); his Art Ensemble evolved into the Art Ensemble of Chicago in the mid-60's. Composer of such intervallic nightmares as "Nonaah", his works often feature humor and patience-testing. His extracurricular Sound and Space ensembles brought musicians like Tom Buckner, Hugh Ragin, and Jaribu Shahid wider exposure.